Isobel Rayson continues to explore her interests in time-based processes and material investigation. Influenced by her quiet studio environment in rural New South Wales, Rayson presents a series of works – found stone and wood objects, also from the property, which are applied as mark making tools – documenting her place and sense of belonging.
The artist writes, ‘I am often preoccupied with thoughts of passing time; where I stand in my immediate environment and how I might capture this temporality as a record of my presence in the world.’
Isobel Rayson, As I wander (detail), 2019, whittled wood and ink, dimensions variable. Photograph: Meagan Jones. Courtesy the artist and Suki & Hugh Gallery, New South Wales
The exhibition consists of two bodies of works: Ten Acres and Carwoola Studies, and As I Wander.
In Ten Acres and Carwoola Studies, rocks Rayson has collected are used to repetitively hammer a wooden surface.
‘I search for rocks of varying forms and textures, ranging from sharp angular points to soft round edges. I am excited at the possibilities that I may discover in using these rocks as mark making tools back in my studio’.
As I Wander consists of a series of sticks collected during daily walks around the property. These sticks are carefully selected and whittled removing wood and bark.
‘This whittling process edits elements of the form that I find distracting, leaving in my view the ‘essence’ of the stick. I then stain the sticks black using Indian Ink and present them on a contrasting white wall where their graphic quality is highlighted. I want the sticks and their graphic shadows to be read as a collection of three-dimensional marks. I want the viewer to examine the sticks and consider their individual qualities. These are the qualities that I first noticed when the sticks were selected in the paddock on one of my wanders.’
Suki & Hugh Gallery
Until 5 May, 2019
New South Wales
