Mary Yacoob: Brutal Space

22 Feb-16 Mar 2024

Overview

Bobinska Brownlee gallery is delighted to present a solo exhibition of expanded drawing by Mary Yacoob. 

Brutal Space, an installation of new works, presents drawings, light boxes and video works, which explore the subject of future adaptations to life in space, in the event of possible climate collapse on Earth. The exhibition speculates on the nature and design of extreme architectures that might be required to survive both travel to inhospitable planets as well as their long term transformation. 

The artworks include diagrammatic representations of interfaces between organic life-forms and architecture and technology; blue-prints for cities built from recycled space junk and burned-out space vehicles; and proposals for buildings designed to withstand extreme extra-terrestrial wind speeds and metallic and toxic chemical dust storms.

Mary Yacoob’s work encompasses ink on paper, printmaking, large-scale vinyl artworks and light boxes. She appropriates the visual languages of electrical and engineering diagrams, architectural plans, cartography, and alphabetical systems. Playing with repetition and geometry, systems and chance, her work involves transfiguring source materials, creating intricate, yet monumental and mysterious thought forms.

Mary Yacoob (MA in Fine Art at Central Saint Martins, BA in Fine Art at London Metropolitan University) is currently studying for a PhD in Fine Art at the Slade School of Fine Art. She is based in London.

Solo exhibitions include Surgery Gallery, Five Years, The Hospital Club, and the Centre for Recent Drawing.

Group exhibitions include The Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, Laurent Delaye, Bobinska Brownlee New River, The New Art Gallery Walsall, Ruskin Gallery, Bruce Castle Museum, Platform A, Gallery 46, &Model, Guest Projects, Xi'an Academy of Fine Arts China, the V&A, PayneShurvell and Foss Fine Art.

Yacoob’s artist books have been acquired by the Tate Gallery Archive, Chelsea College of Art Special Collection and the London College of Communication. Her  artworks are in the Brunel University Art Collection, the collection of Guest Projects/Yinka Shonibare, and numerous private collections.