In the exhibition Breeze Shapes, a continuation of a decade-long body of work, Michael Russell seeks to create pictures of calmness through a repetitive mark-making process. Small ink and graphite lines repeat in organized arrangements developing into minimalist compositions. The marks express the passage of time in grayscale and reflect the quiet nature of the process. Fluctuations in negative space and scale further emphasize duration as a subject matter. The drawings are of abstract shapes and free-floating forms, but imply much more in their precision. Russell sees them operating as images between defined architectures and amoeba-like figures; lungs expanding and contracting into different forms.
Seeking to comprehend the passage of time remains a prevalent aspect of Michael Russell's work. "Through drawing," Russell says, "I aim to expand the capacity for my own introspection, as well as for those viewing my drawings. Mark-making carried out in a linear fashion leaves behind an idiosyncratic trail; documentation of time spent. I view the trace of my hand less as proof of labor, and more as the intimacy of process being laid bare. Rhythm is explicit and builds up to exude stillness. Movement found to be present in the compositions is that of a light breeze. Sweeping gestures are either absent, or mimed with smaller repetitive marks. Although the compositions are carefully engineered, the evolving techniques used to color them in are rudimentary."
Image Credits:
First Image: Michael Russell, Untitled 37, 2019, Ink and Graphite on Paper, 22.625 x 18.625 Inches Framed
Second Image: Photo of Michael Russell by Joseph Oxford
show less
Seeking to comprehend the passage of time remains a prevalent aspect of Michael Russell's work. "Through drawing," Russell says, "I aim to expand the capacity for my own introspection, as well as for those viewing my drawings. Mark-making carried out in a linear fashion leaves behind an idiosyncratic trail; documentation of time spent. I view the trace of my hand less as proof of labor, and more as the intimacy of process being laid bare. Rhythm is explicit and builds up to exude stillness. Movement found to be present in the compositions is that of a light breeze. Sweeping gestures are either absent, or mimed with smaller repetitive marks. Although the compositions are carefully engineered, the evolving techniques used to color them in are rudimentary."
Image Credits:
First Image: Michael Russell, Untitled 37, 2019, Ink and Graphite on Paper, 22.625 x 18.625 Inches Framed
Second Image: Photo of Michael Russell by Joseph Oxford
In the exhibition Breeze Shapes, a continuation of a decade-long body of work, Michael Russell seeks to create pictures of calmness through a repetitive mark-making process. Small ink and graphite lines repeat in organized arrangements developing into minimalist compositions. The marks express the passage of time in grayscale and reflect the quiet nature of the process. Fluctuations in negative space and scale further emphasize duration as a subject matter. The drawings are of abstract shapes and free-floating forms, but imply much more in their precision. Russell sees them operating as images between defined architectures and amoeba-like figures; lungs expanding and contracting into different forms.
Seeking to comprehend the passage of time remains a prevalent aspect of Michael Russell's work. "Through drawing," Russell says, "I aim to expand the capacity for my own introspection, as well as for those viewing my drawings. Mark-making carried out in a linear fashion leaves behind an idiosyncratic trail; documentation of time spent. I view the trace of my hand less as proof of labor, and more as the intimacy of process being laid bare. Rhythm is explicit and builds up to exude stillness. Movement found to be present in the compositions is that of a light breeze. Sweeping gestures are either absent, or mimed with smaller repetitive marks. Although the compositions are carefully engineered, the evolving techniques used to color them in are rudimentary."
Image Credits:
First Image: Michael Russell, Untitled 37, 2019, Ink and Graphite on Paper, 22.625 x 18.625 Inches Framed
Second Image: Photo of Michael Russell by Joseph Oxford
read more
Seeking to comprehend the passage of time remains a prevalent aspect of Michael Russell's work. "Through drawing," Russell says, "I aim to expand the capacity for my own introspection, as well as for those viewing my drawings. Mark-making carried out in a linear fashion leaves behind an idiosyncratic trail; documentation of time spent. I view the trace of my hand less as proof of labor, and more as the intimacy of process being laid bare. Rhythm is explicit and builds up to exude stillness. Movement found to be present in the compositions is that of a light breeze. Sweeping gestures are either absent, or mimed with smaller repetitive marks. Although the compositions are carefully engineered, the evolving techniques used to color them in are rudimentary."
Image Credits:
First Image: Michael Russell, Untitled 37, 2019, Ink and Graphite on Paper, 22.625 x 18.625 Inches Framed
Second Image: Photo of Michael Russell by Joseph Oxford
show less
Date/Times:
1275 Minnesota Street, San Francisco, CA 94107
The Best Events
Every Week in Your Inbox
From Our Sponsors
UPCOMING EVENTS
Great suggestion! We'll be in touch.
Event reviewed successfully.