Abstract Drawing, a book, a scrap of fabric and an old skirt.

I attended the Abstract Drawing seminar at the Drawing Room in London, earlier this year. Richard Deacon spoke in detail with a careful search for his words. 'You draw as a witnessing activity' he says and considers abstract drawing is a work made purely for itself. He questions how we read the shapes and marks 'I am obviously a rule based person' 'interested in both lines and process', Deacon is finding his thoughts in a physical place as he speaks, drawing it out with his hands in silent gesture as he moves through his thoughts.

During the Q&A he asks do you think space is abstract or concrete? A very big question.

I remember this when gazing at the wonderful tiny pencil sketch in Malevich at the Tate Modern.

Suprematist Composition and Self-Portrait 2014

Last week I discovered a book on the abstract artist John Carter written by Chris Yetton in 2010 and published by the Royal Academy. These were both influential tutors when I was at Chelsea College of Art. I had many long and valuable discussions with John Carter at a time my painting was in transition.  Heuristic painted at this time was the beginning of my new work.

Heuristic 1992, oil on canvas and board

I was sad to hear of the death of Roger Ackling this year. He was also a very influential tutor at Chelsea and very kindly gave me this found scrap of fabric after an in depth tutorial. It was always wonderful and very helpful to speak to him.

Found fabric scrap 1992

My roots in abstract art are deep beginning with an abstract drawing screen print on calico from 1967.

Abstract screen printed skirt in calico 1967

Malevich at Tate Modern

On the Boulavard and notes on Malevich, pencil on paper 2014

At Tate Modern I stand intrigued by the red hands in Malevich’s On the Boulevard, 1910. Large and clumsy they control the loose painterly figure where traces of reworking show through his translucent yellow suit, activating the still figure. A heavy rough outline emphasises a connection to the surrounding park and accentuates the solidity of his red hands again.

Filippo Marinetti’s ‘Futurist Manifesto’ on speed, technology and the cult of the machine in 1909, begins to emerge in Polishers 1911 with the rhythm of the lines moving, polishing and dancing over the picture surface.

The idea of mechanics is developed in the futurist opera Victory Over the Sun as Malevich’s costumes disguise the human figure turning them into machines. I am surprised at how much their form is changed as I know these design drawings well but have never seen the costumes made up. I watch and laugh, amused by the pendulum action of figures crossing the stage. I notice how the lighting adds to their disguise, it accentuates the forms, giving the figures a strong sketchy outline that reminds me of the man on the bench On the Boulevard.

Malevich’s simplified geometric stage design indicates 

how he is ready to let go of representation and his simple black square is set to become iconic.

Suprematism – in Colour Masses in the Fourth Dimension the red square influences a stillness expressed by the black square above. It animates the surrounding white space and allows a reading of movement and stillness.

Supremeatism 1915 hangs higher than all others in the room. The diagonal blocks appear suspended in movement as they rise up, emphasising the yellow above.

In Works on Paper I am fascinated with one tiny pencil sketch, Suprematist Composition. It simply contains the universe possibly due to the almost unconnected parts, each containing it’s own quality and depth.

Malevich pencil on paper 2014

I see Malevich’s intense interrogation in Self-Portrait, 1933. His right eye dominant, as he now explores the viewer.