A group exhibition featuring work by tutors and graduates of DJCAD has opened at the Wozownia Gallery, Torun, Poland.
The show, called 'Albatross', has been curated by former DJCAD tutor Matheusz Fahrenholz. Fahrenholz's parents were both from Poland, where he now lives and works as a practising artist.
All of the work in the show is by DJCAD graduates, including Edward Summerton and Derek Guild, currently fine art lecturers at the college. Kerstin Mey, lecturer at DJCAD, has written the catalogue.
Kerstin explained, "The show brings together a selection of work by established artists from the East and North East of Scotland. The regional aspect is of importance in that the different geographies of Alba - the land of the Picts from which the Scottish nation has gradually emerged - permeates into the formation of specific cultural traits, intellectual affinities and mental dispositions. The genus loci affects the artists' particular outlook onto the world and ultimately manifests itself in their art."
Retouched colour illustrations from children's books make up part of Edward Summerton's contribution to the show. The title 'Bad Camber' derives from the fact that many fairy tales are set in the forest. He removes all traces of human inhabitance and fosters a renewed sensitivity for the place and its representations in our individual and collective memory. Commenting on the themes of the show Edward Summerton said, "It explores the surrealist humour that is part of Scottish culture."
Derrick Guild has created a series of works that refer to the tradition of embroidery samplers. His images contain a motto made up of playfully rendered flower petals and mounted within an elaborate picture frame. The moral dictum, however, has been replaced by a range of unpredictable phrases such as 'Holy Fool', ‘For Heaven' and 'Woods Today'.
He said, "Matt felt there were common notions of skewed humour and a similar approach to making work in all the artists in the show. I saw it as an opportunity to do something different."
Edward Summerton travelled to Torun, a Polish University town, for the opening and will be talking about his work to local students. He is also keen to establish links between the Universities of Dundee and Torun.
The show runs in Torun until 15 December and then will tour to other galleries around Poland.