The Roll of Emplacement (2023), a paper scroll, is an exciting fusion of eight Walking the Land artists’ work. United by the topic of Emplacement, the Roll demonstrates both an individual and collaborative process. Separate figurative and abstract artworks (utilising pencil, paint, charcoal, ink, thread, and natural found-materials) are juxtaposed, and as the Roll unfurl, it reveals a sequential exploration, discovery, and communication of feelings, thoughts and ideas on the subject.
The topic of Emplacement was initially conceived of by the core group. It was considered in small and larger groups, and used as a focus for making and sharing work. Following this, Tamsin Grainger was delighted by the response to her invitation to make a Roll of Emplacement, and to co-ordinate the project over the course of a further year.
Image : The cylindrical casing of The Roll of Emplacement – three views
A roll of buff-coloured lining paper was divided into foot lengths and a horizontal ground line was drawn across them all. Contributions were invited in any medium. Once her own work was made, Tamsin put the Roll into the hands of the Royal Mail and sent it through the post to the next interested artist. Each unrolled it, made their foot’s-width contribution, rolled it back up and posted it on. This way it travelled backwards and forwards across Scotland and England.
Each person who received the Roll could see the previous contributor’s work as the project developed. Wrapping and protecting the Roll in transit was a challenge, as were the inevitable changes to the paper as it swapped hands over the months. Exhibiting the finished work in the Cotswolds (April 2023) enabled those who attended the Convergence / Divergence exhibition to view the diverse interpretations and emerging themes on Emplacement.
Image : The work of Jenny Staff and Zoe Ashbrook, side by side on The Roll of Emplacement
Participating Artists
Zoe Ashbrook, Ruth Broadbent, Tamsin Grainger, Richard Keating, Janette Kerr, Rachel McDonnell, Julius Smit, Jenny Staff.
Julius Smit wrote, “As I worked on my contribution I thought how important this approach was to a collaborative work, where the positive nature of slowness and gestation was the very antithesis to a world framed by speed and immediacy.”
The Roll of Emplacement is now available for exhibition in other venues.
Image: Janette Kerr, Roll of Emplacement.
More images and information here https://www.tamsingrainger.com/blog-all-posts/roll-of-emplacement
