7 October - Saturday 4 November 2017
The title of the exhibition stems from an emphasis of materiality, process and making which sit at the heart of both artists' work. Whilst Gardiner uses hand-made paper to form her intricate constructions, Watson works predominantly with wood and related products such as plywood and filler. The exhibition features new work by both artists and will include their first ever collaborative artworks that investigate elements within the local landscape.
The show “Shared Practice” by Allan Watson and Julia Gardiner is a natural extension of the artists’ relationship and working practice. The exhibition combines individual works, which have been made by each artist, alongside two new collaborative pieces, ‘Complexity of a Mountain’ and the large scale, ‘Bridge to Brig’, which charts the course of the River Dee from Banchory to Aberdeen.
Anne Moore of the Barn’s gallery committee said: “We are very excited to be having this wonderful exhibition here at the gallery. Allan and Julia’s working methods and minimalist sensibilities seem so in tune with each other, but despite the fact that Allan has been crafting the boxes for Julia’s intricate constructions for more than fifteen years, this is the first time they have collaborated to create work together.”
The new works were made especially for this exhibition, and in response to the environment and the landscape of Deeside.
Julia Gardiner and Allan Watson both graduated from Gray’s School of Art in 1986 and continue to live and work in Aberdeen.