Adrian Marden
Biography
It might be argued that our consumer society is wasteful with too many commodities unfairly distributed and advertising feeding on our vulnerability and dissatisfaction. However, this material culture has provided many with a 'quality of life' that would not have been enjoyed in the recent past and is unobtainable in numerous parts of the world.
My current artwork celebrates some of the benefits we enjoy. It explores what Jasper Johns called “things looked at but rarely seen". With inspiration from Michael Craig Martin and Patrick Caulfield these contemporary images catalogue the careful crafting of the forms and the detailed finishes of 'Everyday Things' which sadly we either ignore or discard. Whilst we may re-cycle some of the materials used to make them, we throw away or overlook the actual objects which demonstrate the ingenuity of their designers and the inventiveness of the manufacturers.
My images are made by observing and recording the subject. There is no computer trickery or photographic technique involved. The software provides a set of tools and like all printmaking processes it offers both possibilities and limitations. I work within these constraints, using a limited pallet and hard-edged shapes, to depict these items.
The images are exhibited, often much enlarged, to focus attention on the abstract quality of the elements of the drawing. 'Cutting Out' the images presents them as '2D sculptures' which celebrate the beauty of these ingenious objects.