Steven Maybury
Steven Maybury is an Irish artist based in Dublin. Since leaving art college in 2012, he has been awarded a number of artist bursaries, awards and residencies, and in 2013 took part in a European touring exhibition, ‘40-40-40’, which showcased new talent in Ireland’s state art collection. Solo and two-person shows include: 'Destroy These Walls', Mart Gallery, Dublin (2017, solo); 'Anicca', The Library Project (solo, 2016); ‘Jigsaws, Combs and Rulers’, Eight Gallery, Dublin (solo, 2014); ‘Groove Chronicles’, Market Studios, Dublin (solo, 2014); ‘Radical Line’, Pallas Projects, Dublin (solo, 2014); and with Claire McCluskey: ‘Synthesis I’, Eight Gallery, Dublin (2013), and ‘Synthesis II’, Tactic Gallery, Cork (2013). In 2014 he was invited to present his drawings on The Drawing Suite, a blog for contemporary European drawing. Recent group exhibitions include: The RHA Annual, Dublin (2017, invited); 'Fault Lines', Patriothall Gallery, Edinburgh (2017); '12x16', Ormond Studios, Dublin (2016); Glitch art fair, Rua Red (2015); ‘Re-ignite’, Customs House, Westport (2015); and ‘On Beauty’, Roscommon Arts Centre (2015).
He is currently working towards two solo exhibitions and is involved in several creative projects, including The Mundi Project commissioned by Luciano Benetton.
Statement
Drawing represents a mechanism not just for seeing and recording, but for intense exploration of our material surroundings. Taking everyday objects, such as a jigsaw, comb, skateboard or ruler, I use effects of repetitive ruling to recreate the objects’ surface qualities and to highlight the imperfections and unexpected beauty hidden in debris. In this way I aim to draw attention to our preoccupation with archiving, preservation and precision, as well as to the routines and rituals underlying our daily lives. In certain drawings, selected areas of the image are also exposed to light for varying lengths of time, which in many cases is an open-ended process without a fixed timescale. This introduces a further dimension, creating additional disruptions as well as new geometries, and enhancing the works’ impermanence.
Links
www.stevenmaybury.com
www.eight-gallery.com/artists/steven-maybury
www.www.thedrawingsuite.com
Annica 1, 2015, pen on paper exposed to light, 20.3 x 25.4 cm
Untitled drawing (Synthesis no 1), 2013, pen on paper, 29.7 x 21 cm
Radical Line (no 2), 2014, archival print of drawing on German etching paper, 85 x 116 cm
Untitled drawing (Synthesis no 2), 2013, pen on paper, 29.7 x 21 cm
Untitled Drawing (Synthesis no 6), 2013, pencil on paper, 21 x 14.8 cm
Untitled drawing (no 6), 2015, pencil on paper, 23 x 30 cm
Annica 8, 2015, pen on paper exposed to light, 20.3 x 25.4 cm
Untitled drawing (no 11), 2015, pencil on paper, 21 x 14.8 cm
Untitled drawing (Synthesis no 12), 2013, pencil on paper, 21 x 14.8 cm
Annica 12, 2015, pen on paper exposed to light, 20.3 x 25.4 cm
Untitled drawing (Synthesis no 13), 2013, pencil on paper, 21 x 14.8 cm
Untitled drawing (no 14), 2013, pencil on paper, 21 x 14.8 cm
Little Pieces, 2015, pen and pencil on paper on gallery floor, 150 x 150 cm
Untitled drawing, 2014, Tulca Festival, Galway
Jigsaws, Combs and Rulers installation, 2014, Eight Gallery, Dublin
Double Speak (no 2), 2013, pen on paper, 150 x 270 cm
A Rhythm Exposed, 2017, wall relief, 300 x 150 cm, installation at Mart Gallery, Dublin
A Rhythm Exposed, 2017, detail