Bullock / Works / The ‘Knot Variation’ paintings
‘The topological consequence of being // and the space between us’
A few years ago, through what at the time felt like incredible good fortune, I found myself custodian of the archive of eminent mathematician Clifford Hugh Dowker (1912 – 1982) who worked primarily within the field of topology, knot theory and sheaf theory. This was quite literally discovered in a box, in an attic, and proved to be the start of my fascination for a subject I will actually never understand; Dowker’s life and work is the inspiration behind the artworks for this exhibition. An artist statement regarding this body of work can be downloaded here. The illustrated essay ‘A brief treatise on knots’ can be downloaded here.
The ‘knot variation’ paintings
A constantly evolving and expanding series of (un)paintings inspired by Dowker’s original mathematical knot drawings from his handwritten manuscripts. The paintings are all named after the song titles of legendary jazz saxophonist John Coltrane – making the connection between the improvised nature of the music with the improvised development of the knots at the heart of these works.
‘All or nothing at all’ 2022. 120cm x 100cm x 4cm, oil on canvas.
(private collection)
‘After the crescent’ 2022. 120cm x 100cm x 4cm, oil on canvas.
‘Late late blues’ 2022. 40cm x 40cm x 4cm, oil on canvas.
‘All morning long’ 2022. 40cm x 40cm x 4cm, oil on canvas.
‘Focus on sanity’ 2022. 40cm x 40cm x 4cm, oil on canvas.
‘Just you just me’ 2022, 40cm x 40cm x 4cm, oil on canvas.
(private collection)
‘Exactly like you’ 2022, 40cm x 40cm x 4cm, oil on canvas.
‘Red/blue experiment #2’ 2022, 40cm x 40cm x 4cm, oil on canvas.
‘Cosmos’ 2020, 40cm x 40cm x 4cm, acrylic on canvas.
(private collection)
‘Body and sould’ 2020, 40cm x 40cm x 4cm, arcylic on canvas.
(private collection)
‘Equinox’ 2022, 40cm x 40cm x 4cm, oil on canvas.
‘Chronic blues’ 2022, 60cm x 90cm x 4cm, oil and acrylic on canvas.
‘My favourite things’ 2020, 62cm x 90cm x 4cm, acrylic and gold leaf on canvas.
(private collection)
‘After the rain’ 2021, 120cm x 100cm x 4cm, acrylic on canvas.
(private collection)
‘Compassion’ 2021, 120cm x 100cm x 4cm, acrylic on canvas.
‘Soultrane’ 2020, 80cm x 80cm x 4cm, acrylic on four canvases
‘Sweet sapphire blues’ 2020, 80cm x 80cm x 4cm, acrylic on four canvases.
(private collection)
‘Seraphic light’ 2020. Diptych, 80cm x 40cm x 4cm, acrylic on canvases
‘Lush life’ 2021. Triptych, 62cm x 252cm x 4cm, acrylic and gold leaf on canvases.
‘A love supreme’ 2020
40cm x 40cm x 4cm, acrylic on canvas
(private collection)
‘Resolution’ 2020
40cm x 40cm x 4cm, acrylic on canvas
‘Do I love you because you are beautiful?’ 2020, 40cm x 40cm x 4cm, acrylic on canvas
(private collection)
‘Ascent’ 2020
40cm x 40cm x 4cm, acrylic on canvas
‘How deep is the ocean?’ 2020,
80cm x 40cm x 4cm, acrylic on canvases.
(private collection)
‘Evolution’ 2020
40cm x 40cm x 4cm, acrylic on canvas
‘I’m a dreamer, aren’t we all?’ 2020
40cm x 40cm x 4cm, acrylic on canvas
The sculptures – prototypes
These photographs from the initial install and build of a new sculpture work. Currently ‘Untitled’, 5m x 2.5m x 1.5m (variable). More photographs here soon on all the sculptures in production for inclusion in the show.