The Big Draw Exhibition, Centrespace Gallery, Bristol

Facade (Interface), 2010. Vinyl, pen and pencil on paper.

One of my recent drawings, from a series of 'Fenestration' drawings, has been selected for the Big Draw exhibition exploring contemporary approaches to drawing at the Centrespace Gallery, Bristol which opens this Friday 8th October, from 6pm - 9pm, and runs until the 14th October.

The series of drawings ‘Fenestration’, considers the changing facade of an institution or organisation.  ‘Fenestration’ is the traditional name for the placement of windows upon architectural structures; usually in a symmetrical manner, and the scale and amount of windows placed were often closely linked with status and social history.  An impressive architectural structure previously exhibited the status and power of an institution and housed its employees or users.  However, the companies interface is now the first point and contact and we navigate services and possibilities through a series of tabs and windows, processing transactions and communications without physically moving.  Digital ‘Fenestration’ is practiced by interface designers, as they carefully select scale, colour and style of frame.  

I began the drawings by sketching out the original facade of the architectural structure, and create a series of preliminary sketches from the institutions website.  I then consider how these forms can combine.  Facade (Interface) (2010) is generated from the facade of renowned department store Selfridges, and its detailed window features are drawn from icons and graphics from their website.  The drawings use the materials of pen and pencil, as well as a large proportion of adhesive vinyl, a common material in shop window advertisements.

The Big Draw Exhibition, Centrespace Gallery, 6 Leonard Lane, Bristol, BS1 1AE

Opening 8th Oct, 6- 9pm. Runs 8th - 14th Oct, open daily 11am - 5pm.