After 18 months of very little happening in the way of physically present art, I’ve just finished my show intro/retro at Arch04 in Southampton. The name? It’s been two years since I became an Arches resident and I was going to have a show in spring ’20 but then, you know, that thing happened. And is still happening, albeit less perilously. So, it’s an introduction to my work during that time and a retrospective of how I’ve spent my creative time. The delay has made them the same thing.
The reasons for doing it? Most simply, my art style largely focuses on texture and intricacy. I can be photographed and put online but it really isn’t the same thing. It needs to be seen in reality and often close up. To be able to touch, but choosing not to. It’s also because my network needs to be resurrected, revitalised, given a nudge – and this is the point of my DYCP funding. First step – at least get back to where I was. It’s an opportunity to ask for crit, and I did – something I have little experience of as a self-taught artist, and something I need to embrace. I asked and I received. The show is also part of a tentative re-emergence of the local art scene – there was also a RIPE show at the same time, and some visitors went to both. If there’s only one thing on it’s a gig. If there’s more than one, and you might miss something you want to see, it’s a festival. When there’s more, we don’t compete, we cross-pollinate.
There’s also the personal aspect – after such a long period of doing little or nothing IRL or with more than a couple of other people, it’s important to get back out in the world, even if a bit cautiously. I have cPTSD which means anxiety is an issue, so I picked a space with easy access to the outdoors (where most of the conversations happened), asked visitors to behave Covid-safely (and put out a table with sanitiser and a box of masks), and so on. And you know what, it was lovely. About 30 people came. We all played nicely, the sun came out along with the folding chairs, friends and wine magically appeared because art. It felt normal, joyful and unterrifying. Bliss. There were even a few people I didn’t already know. It also meant I could explore how my practice has changed (kind of the whole point really), especially in the light of having a mentor and understanding my place as a bricoleur with a deep-seated love of intricacy – foamy levels of detail make my art-heart sing. The layering of paints, the meaning of many of the pieces, the collection of teeth and belly-button fluff. All was discussed. Other artists asked me difficult questions. It was a better show than it would have been 18 months ago, and I have much to muse upon, follow-up convos planned. Step 1 is complete, let’s see what Step 2 turns out to be…
Dave Hubble 