Martin Thomspon, Untitled, c. 1980. Courtesy of the artist.

 

Martin Thompson

13 October - 12 November 2006 in the Hirschfeld Gallery

Curated by Stuart Shepherd and Jessica Reid

Martin Thompson’s drawings evoke the appearance of dot matrix printing, computer pixels and embroidery stitches. Over the past thirty years he has generated a large body of intricately designed pattern works, using only graph paper and fine-tipped coloured ink pens. Based on mathematical formulas of his own devising, Thompson’s process involves colouring in sequences of 1mm squares which build up into dazzling geometric abstractions. Thompson has also developed a technique for inserting additional pieces of pattern using a scalpel and layers of cellotape on the back of the drawings. Always working in pairs, each drawing is replicated in a reverse copy and exhibited with its negative clone.

In his solo exhibition, Thompson takes his practice in a new direction. Alongside a selection of his earlier drawings, Thompson here will explore the potential offered by scanning and colour-manipulating his works into eye-sizzling large-scale prints.