Suffering in Silence
David Robertson
I have more souls than one
Joshua Donkor
Free entry - Venue: The Gallery at the Edge, University of Bath, BA2 7AY - 7 May to 18 June - open Weds to Sat, 11am to 4pm
Suffering in Silence - David Robertson
Suffering in Silence
David Robertson’s immersive print installation explores the stigma around mental health and the difficulties men have in reaching out for help. Consisting of 25 life-sized men, the figure is a self-portrait but is representative of any man. Formed of tally marks, each mark representing an individual. Walking through the large-scale installation is a bewildering and disturbing experience. The figures surround and tower above you, moving unpredictably. As your pathway through keeps shifting, the weight of burden becomes apparent. David comments: ‘The prints were editioned three and a half years ago, but it’s only now that I’ve been able to show them how it was originally conceived. I’m really excited that a print installation was selected for a white cube gallery.’
During his six-week residency at the Andrew Brownsword Gallery at the University of Bath until 18 June, David will be working on a series of prints, from his sketches documenting the changing landscape. Walking and drawing is an important part of David’s practice that he uses to maintain mental wellbeing.
Insta: @multiple_of_one
I have more souls than one - Joshua Donkor
I have more souls than one
“People and stories are ultimately what influences my work, this is why I often describe my practice as visual narration. A lot of the work I make is also deeply personal and stems from my family history, particularly my Fathers upbringing our Ghanaian heritage.
The new body of work I’m currently developing seeks to explore transcultural and African Diasporic experiences in the Western world and how this is felt through the different generations of family.
This project stemmed from my most recent journey back to Ghana at the start of 2022 with my cousin.
As we have grown older our relationship with Ghana has continued to evolve. 2022 represented somewhat of a passing of the torch as my cousin was expected to take on more responsibilities within her family.
This brought into focus many questions about our relationship and connection to Ghana as members of the African Diaspora. Although we have grown up with many Ghanaian cultural influences within our lives, unlike our parents and those before, we have not grown up there.
This has led to a feeling of slight disconnection from our heritage, felt most notably whenever we return.
These new portraits include a range of image transfer techniques which blend archival family images dating back decades with glimpses of the present taken from my most recent journey back to Ghana.
This acts as a representation of all the generations, time periods and memories that have informed our past, and which will continue to influence our future.”
Insta: @joshuadonkorart
Installation view: Suffering in Silence, David Robertson, 2018. Woodcut, each 2000 x 910 mm. Installation: 2400 x 5500 x 5500 mm
The ‘Holburne Open’ series is a new experimental open submission arts programme to display work finished, unfinished or in progress in the Gallery at the Edge, University of Bath.
The idea was formed because of the scarcity of exhibition opportunities in the South West as well as the need for artists to have space to experiment and to experience their work outside of the studio. With over 100 submissions an exceptional series of works have been selected.
Will Cooper, Curator of Contemporary Art at the Holburne said, “Congratulations to the selected artists, the competition was fierce and we are excited to be working with such a variety of talented artists and to give them the time and space to develop their practice.”
Find out what’s on next here: www.holburne.org