Takahashi McGil and Emma Lawrenson

24 Jun-22 Oct 2023

Credit: Image © the artists, courtesy of YSP.

Overview

Balance and Form brings together the complementary practices of exquisite woodworkers Takahashi McGil and the intuitive printmaking of Emma Lawrenson.

Emma Lawrenson explores the formal processes and techniques involved in screen printing, with particular emphasis on hand-drawn details combined with interactions of subtle colour. Minimal, abstract and understated in style, she takes inspiration from the rural Yorkshire landscape as well as artists such as Agnes Martin and the American Colour Field painters. With a carefully considered approach to form and space, Lawrenson creates a thoughtful and harmonious balance of colour, tone and shape. Her recent works are weighted towards a hand drawn element, using scraping and scratching to produce different textural surfaces within each print and sometimes working into them with white conte crayon or pencil.

Husband and wife team Kaori Takahashi and Mark McGilvray work collaboratively on the creation of decorative vessels and functional homeware, formed from locally sourced sustainable hardwoods. Combining ancient Japanese traditions honed in Tokyo with Western techniques and hand tools, the pair work together to plane, chisel, turn, wax and lacquer the pieces. McGilvray works on the shape and form while Takahashi carves the surface, always celebrating the imperfections inherent in the materials used. Urushi laquering – a Japanese technique where several layers of lacquer are applied within a warm and humid wooden chamber – is often used to heighten the character and depth of a piece.

All works in this exhibition will be available to purchase exclusively at YSP Shop, in-person and online. YSP is a registered charity and your purchases help to support our work.

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