Coming to Art Market Cardiff from the 30th November is Blue Notes, an exhibition by Cardiff-based artists Angus Vasili and Rikki Hewitt. The show primarily focuses on the pair’s screenprinting practice, but also includes a selection of collages and drawings, giving greater insight into their working processes. Angus and Rikki’s recent work touch upon themes of abstraction, landscape, iconography, urban architecture, and interpretations of the natural world through novel and intuitive screenprinting techniques.
Both Angus and Rikki are members at The Printhaus; a Cardiff-based printmaking studio where they have worked alongside each other in the screen printing studio. Angus tells us; “While working together, we noticed similarities in our printmaking process’, both incorporating collage, building images gradually and intuitively using a variety of stencil-making methods. Our work was very process driven and we both share an interest in exploring screen-printing as an extension of our creative process, rather than solely a means of reproduction.” Thus, the pair thought these connections would make strong foundations for a show.
Having bounced the idea of doing an exhibition around for a while, when Art Market Cardiff’s owner, Daf, let them know of an opportunity to exhibit about a month ago, Angus and Rikki decided to go for it. Angus describes; “We thought it was as good an opportunity as any to finally do it, despite it being such a quick turn-around. We had both taken part in group shows in Art market in the past so we knew our work would suit the space.”
Blue Notes presents works that explore the realm of abstraction, taking references from the natural world, architecture, urbanisation, and the patterns found within them. The featured pieces explore these themes across various scales and media; including large, multi-layered screenprints sitting alongside collages, sketchbook pages, and oil pastel monoprints. “Neither of us have shown some of the sketchbook and collage elements of our work before, so we are excited to present them and hope they add another dimension to our working process and hopefully give the audience more insight,” says Angus.
Most of the work included in the show is new and specific, for which Angus and Rikki have worked in styles and colour palettes that complement each other. Blue Notes also showcases a collaborative piece that the pair worked on together. “That was something neither of us had done before, so it was really interesting to respond to each other’s shapes, references and colour palettes,” comments Angus. For the piece, Angus printed some simple shapes and colour combinations, to which Rikki responded. Rikki states; “Building around Angus’ split-fountain colours and rigid ‘frames’ was really fun. I was surprised how much they could change depending on what colours were put next to, or over them. It was really interesting, and unnerving, to deface someone else’s work with the intention of responding and re-building it.”
Blue Notes takes place at Art Market Cardiff and is Open Tuesday to Sunday 12pm to 6pm.
30/11/24 until 24/12/24.
Art Market Cardiff, 58 Glynne Street, Pontcanna, Cardiff, Wales CF11 9NS
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- Angus Vasili & Rikki Hewitt | Blue Notes Exhibition - November 29, 2024
- Yuki Nagashima Solo Exhibition | Something Happening Somewhere Far Away - November 27, 2024
- Fallani Venezia | Sei ore la cala, sei ore la cresce – Simone Carraro - November 27, 2024
