DAVID GARNER AND TOM PITT
BayArt, Cardiff Bay
Sat 13 Oct-Fri 9 Nov
One might expect two artists in a joint exhibition to have similar ideas of intention and practice in art. For artists David Garner and Tom Pitt, whose work will stand side by side at BayArt from mid-October, their practices couldn’t be more different.
They do, however, compare in inspiration from subject matter. Both focus on deserted places, on supposedly discarded or useless things, on a sense of physical abandonment. The two go about externalising their attitudes in different but remarkably similarly-intended ways. For instance, while an old scrap yard might inspire Garner to use pieces of it to make an artwork, Pitt might depict the yard abstractly through layers of paint.
Garner is an installation artist and assembler. Through this aforementioned lens of unwanted, functionless objects of the exhibition, he takes these objects and joins them into one object, infusing them with new purpose and meaning. He chooses his objects with the intention of making political, allegorical or symbolic statements. Garner has been known to suggest that people see his exhibition prior to reading the exhibition’s catalogue essay, so that a particular narrative and interpretation does not colour the viewing experience; he believes that one’s first impression of his art ensures multifaceted interpretation.
In contrast, Pitt explores the relationship between paint and its canvas, drawing inspiration from the sense of decay with which him and Garner are interested. He creates images through the process of scraping paint, erasure, sanding and erosion, symbolising in themselves the processes occurring to the places that inspire his work.
Both artists will be in conversation with Philip Nicol on Fri 12 Oct at BayArt, for those interested in learning more about the artists before wandering through their exhibition. BayArt is renowned for showcasing and supporting the fine art practice of emerging and mid-career artists, making their intimate, creative space perfect for Pitt and Garner. This exhibition promises to illustrate, through a unique and intriguing collaboration, the way that inspiration manifests and how art is created with an inseparable tie to the artist themselves.
Admission: free. Info: 029 2065 0016 / www.bayart.org.uk MEGAN THOMAS
