Place and Process

Applied artist Stuart Cairns translated his experiences of walking, collecting and making over the previous year into this installation of found objects and material drawings. Entitled Driftline, the arrangement explored a sense of place through the rhythms of found objects, mark making and made artefacts, and was accompanied by supporting works of photography and drawing - parts of Cairns’ practice that are rarely displayed.

Combining his fascination with materials, the practice of collecting finds on walks through different Northern Ireland environments, and his love of making objects with an implied sense of function, Place and Process has been enabled by the inaugural Rosy James Memorial Trust Award, facilitated by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland (ACNI).

Suzanne Lyle, Head of Visual Arts at ACNI comments: ‘The exhibition at R-Space presents us all with a wonderful opportunity to see Stuart’s new work, developed with the assistance of the Rosy James Memorial Trust Award.  Rosy left a bequest that has set up an award for a designer/maker to take time to develop new work.  Her wish was for the public to see some of the best work being created by artists in Northern Ireland and this exhibition gives us the chance to do just that.’

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