By Geoff Parr
TIMING: an exhibition by David Hawley
A powerful group of artworks make up David Hawley's latest exhibition TIMING. A common processing strategy repeats throughout ensuring a strong cohesive visual statement. The works benefits from a systematic development evident in his two previous exhibitions ZOOM and SPACE TRAVEL. The dynamics implied by David Hawley's exhibition titles reflect the upward trajectory of his practice.
With TIMING, there are shaped wall pieces, some very large indeed. Hawley's constancy to pattern-making remains, but is now stripped of any pretence of intricacy. No sooner do the components form up with a semblance of regularity than they break away as if hit by "Cyclone Larry". In response the flat surface seems to move with the streaking pattern into warp mode, an illusion supported by a sympathetic shaping of the whole artwork.
These are risky works. As with most significant art, the artist is reaching for something well beyond the usual. In his own words he wants things "to start to spin". To this end he brings to bear the full armoury. Colour plays a major role with carefully selected discords and/or contrasts; combinations that refuses the eye a resting-place. The paint is applied by silkscreen, a process usually associated with flat matt surfaces and there is some of that here, but only to be contrasted with the many fragments of busted decoration.
All this movement begins with a little old photocopier. Hawley is one of many contemporary artists who subvert the design intent of technology in general. Indeed there is a long tradition of artists finding new expressive potential in this way. Here the artist feeds a regular pattern into the copier and then manipulates the result by intervening in normal processing. His manipulations continue throughout the making process to a point where expressive need is satisfied, at least within the aims of this latest body of work.
Hawley has developed and refined methodologies to suit his art practice, a practice that invites spontaneity and chance. Hawley eschews individual mark making and avoids style. In the disrupted rhythms of TIMING, David Hawley finds metaphors for our bodily experience aboard a spinning planet in an ever expanding, violent universe.
Geoff Parr 12.4.2006