Robert MacPherson's Material Practice
MATERIALITY AND CONCEPTUALISM -Case Study 1- Robert MacPherson: Discuss Macpherson’s material practice (250-300 words):
Robert MacPherson’s material decisions in Mayfair, Swamp Rats (1994-1995) revolve around selecting and use of materials and pieces of language from his everyday world. For example, MacPherson’s has intentionally undertaken a process such as; pre-cut Masonite sheets, hand painted typography, large scale, intentional arrangements, specific language, a reduced colour scheme and commercial acrylic paint. He uses these material processes to create a large scale installation of 97 hand painted signs which imitate actual signage; advertising various fishing impedimenta.
Robert MacPherson uses the tradition of Duchampian principles-selecting materials from his every day. For example; MacPherson selects Masonite sheets, used for standard signage at local shops and garages. MacPherson purchases the Masonite sheets in pre-prepared, commercially available sizes and then cuts them down in half. MacPherson has intentionally selected this material because they are the identical materials that are used in the everyday signage. The Masonite sheets therefore communicate a comfort and familiarity with his audience.
Mayfair Swamp Rats breathes of a dusty, muddy experience of central Brisbane and the Brisbane River. MacPherson has variously painted his 97 Masonite sheets with a strict reduced colour scheme composed of several shades of brown, white and black. These earth tones are the commercial colours for the familiar street signs. To enrich the artworks authenticity, MacPherson has used a scratching technique on the sheets to make them look old and re-used, like the advertised signs on the local streets. MacPherson has used commercial acrylic paints of black or white (another replication of the quotidian) for his typography on the sheets. The application of paint varies, while some text has been loaded or dragged, some lacks paint, and sometimes MacPherson
Robert MacPherson’s material decisions in Mayfair, Swamp Rats (1994-1995) revolve around selecting and use of materials and pieces of language from his everyday world. For example, MacPherson’s has intentionally undertaken a process such as; pre-cut Masonite sheets, hand painted typography, large scale, intentional arrangements, specific language, a reduced colour scheme and commercial acrylic paint. He uses these material processes to create a large scale installation of 97 hand painted signs which imitate actual signage; advertising various fishing impedimenta.
Robert MacPherson uses the tradition of Duchampian principles-selecting materials from his every day. For example; MacPherson selects Masonite sheets, used for standard signage at local shops and garages. MacPherson purchases the Masonite sheets in pre-prepared, commercially available sizes and then cuts them down in half. MacPherson has intentionally selected this material because they are the identical materials that are used in the everyday signage. The Masonite sheets therefore communicate a comfort and familiarity with his audience.
Mayfair Swamp Rats breathes of a dusty, muddy experience of central Brisbane and the Brisbane River. MacPherson has variously painted his 97 Masonite sheets with a strict reduced colour scheme composed of several shades of brown, white and black. These earth tones are the commercial colours for the familiar street signs. To enrich the artworks authenticity, MacPherson has used a scratching technique on the sheets to make them look old and re-used, like the advertised signs on the local streets. MacPherson has used commercial acrylic paints of black or white (another replication of the quotidian) for his typography on the sheets. The application of paint varies, while some text has been loaded or dragged, some lacks paint, and sometimes MacPherson