Output details
34 - Art and Design: History, Practice and Theory
University of Wolverhampton
‘Vacant’, (Screenprint)
‘A Little Space’, (Screenprint)
‘A Space Between’, (Screenprint)
Brief Description
The three screen prints were selected from an open submission for the 1st Open International Print Competition, St Ives, Cornwall. Entries were received from 36 countries. These works were shown at the Open Space Galleries, Penryn, Cornwall and later transferred to The Exchange Gallery, Penzance. Scull’s work was selected for a special award. The work of all the award winners was later sent for a further show at the Wharepuke Gallery, Kerikeri, New Zealand.
Research Rationale
Leading on from his work in 2008, Scull extended his research into windows as a subject including Vermeer’s and Edward Hopper’s use of windows where it remains unclear what inhabits the space beyond their windows. For this new work, Scull chose to utilise the model of the window or doorway, and its notion of separating an exterior space from an interior space, as a theoretical rather than literal/physical portal, drawing on the Japanese word ‘Ma’ – a word used to describe the concept of negative space and is employed in Japanese garden design. The word translates roughly as gap, pause or the space between two structured parts, which has led Scull to consider how empty space (window) could become positive (focal point).
Strategies Undertaken
In each of the black and white prints, Scull employed a single undifferentiated printed black surface to the rectangular shape that enclosed a white unprinted shape. The white rectangular shape in each work was configured so as to suggest an opening seen at an angle to the surrounding flat black rectangle but did not give any illusion of depth. In the third work, two upright but separated, rectangular shapes were configured in such a manner as to suggest an opening. This work was printed in grey – often described as a non-colour. In all three works the use of flat black and grey ink was chosen because Scull did not want to overemphasise the material but instead lead the eye towards the unprinted white substrate.
