Eddie Summerton's art explores the small spare spaces that exist between the housing schemes and the landscape, between our culture and subculture, between reality and fiction. His most recent work has been exhibited nationally and internationally in the form of paintings, objects, artists' publications, editions of postcards, video screenings, installation and sound.
Colin Greenslade, Exhibitions Coordinator at the Royal Scottish Academy says “The RSA is very pleased to be showing this body of new work by Eddie and Derrick. Both are lecturers in Fine Art at the University of Dundee and are prominent figures of influence to the next generation of young talent. The RSA’s relationship with Eddie stretches back many years. He showed in the RSA Student Exhibition whilst studying, was the very first RSA/Salvesen Art Scholar in 1989 and has subsequently become an Associate of the RSA; getting involved in the day-to-day activities of the Academy. Derrick’s work is seldom seen in Scotland. With a dealer in New York selling his works, it is unusual for the public of Scotland to be given the opportunity to see his work in its country of origin. This collaborative two-person show is an exciting chance to see the fruits of their recent labours and delve into an imaginary, child-like world of dark make-believe………"
Artist and Historian Michael Windle writes of the show:
"It’s no coincidence that when Dundee Contemporary Arts opened in 1999 the first movie they showed was “The Singing Ringing Tree” (1957), a classic film adaptation of the Grimm fairy tale. Made in East Berlin and funded by Soviet treasure to prove communism was a success, the “Tree” looms large in our generation’s early memories. In Scotland we recognised the coldness of this tale from our brothers in the opposing margin of future Europe - it exuded an uncomfortable strangeness that mirrored our young emotions. In our race for cultural homogenization in the world it will become harder to find so different a visual vocabulary, one that can give birth to such strange art. Real art looks strange because we have not seen it before.
Eddie and Derrick are reminded of their formative influences and revisit that over-lit realm. Guild understands his illuminations as Memento Mori. In this case the ambrosia of Victorian illustration is needled with the portent of the written message. His sure hand is comfortable with the surface of painting and object, he has found his language and can watch it crawl into enemy territory. These are a new foray for him into a lighter palette belying the works’ darker message. Summerton’s imagery enjoys similar opposing themes. The relentless rain and thorns have a patterned inevitability about them ensuring you know something inherently worrying lies within. His book interventions have a sense of loss and humour that greatly enhance the unintentional bleakness of the originals. The exhibition is hung with artists’ work shown alternatively side by side to create a dialogue/narrative between them. As in the micro and the macro of the individual pieces, the show can be read as a whole and up close.
The exhibition shimmers perfectly in the new RSA Gallery 9 Project room - a space showing more experimental work. This is a show by two artists with strong personalities operating in the margins of the margins by choice. Come travelling with them now then through the golden summer town of all our fledgling memories."
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