Bonhoga Gallery will kick off its’ 2016 programme with an exhibition of collage work by internationally renowned Scottish sculptor and instillation artist David Mach.
Mach studied at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design, graduating in 1979, then at the Royal College of Art, London from 1979–82. Following many shows, public works and installations, he was nominated for the Turner Prize in 1988, was elected a member of the Royal Academy in 1998 and in 2000 was appointed Professor of Sculpture.
Mach is well known for his large-scale public artworks in Scotland, particularly for “Big Heids,” on the side of the M8 between Glasgow and Edinburgh, paying tribute to the area’s industrial heritage. He also works extensively with collage and recently started using graphics from D.C. Thomson’s comic series Commando War Stories in Pictures to create new stories.
He explains, “Collage has always been a major part of my studio practice. I would use it to show ideas for sculpture in the same way other artists might sketch out a design... My designs would include a cut out figure to demonstrate scale. That one little figure would grow into work featuring a cast of thousands and the range of source material I would use would grow from photographs to magazines and would extend to comics”.
“The Commando collage was easy for me to get into, the original comics being part of my own personal art history.
Their stories and their drawing inspiring me to construct mini epics charged with the energy of the original Thompson drawings.”
In addition to the exhibition Mach will give a public talk at Mareel on 4th February at 7pm. The talk will focus on Mach’s life and work, and will touch upon his sculptural work as well as the collages on display at the gallery. Tickets for the event are on sale now.
Exhibiting alongside Mach in the lower gallery at Bonhoga, and in the Feature Space outside the cinemas at Mareel will be Shetland-based artist Avril Thomson Smith. A self taught artist, Avril's work demonstrates her natural talent and eye for detail. The exhibition, entitled ‘Aald Boats and Boannie Lanes’ features pencil drawings of boats (shown in the Lower Gallery at Bonhoga) and Lerwick’s lanes (shown at Mareel).
Talking about the process of drawing Avril says ‘I very much enjoy the whole creative process. It’s wonderful getting outdoors and looking for inspiration. Shetlands such a diverse place, its great to explore, and come up with new creative ideas. I love the process of actually putting pencil to paper it’s so exciting seeing a piece of work develop.
The public opening of both exhibitions will take place at Bonhoga Gallery on Friday 15th January at 6pm. Entry is free and all are welcome.
