A Chance Encounter Between an Umbrella and a Sewing Machine: works by James Clarkson

The opening of Rhubaba’s newly expanded gallery space showcases Sheffield-based artist James Clarkson’s questioning of formal juxtaposition in found object sculptures. Taking Comte de Lautréamont’s nineteenth-century poem, and the exploration of random possibilities of chance encounters, as its reference, the works are broken down to their fundamental shapes in an intelligent consideration of the parallels between high-art and design.

Illuminating the space is the sculpture Circular Motif with Two Hanging Forms: metal, wire and bulbs combine to reference modernist design furniture and re-appropriate it to explore the circular form. Clarkson’s use of titles extends a long tradition, from Duchamp and others, studying the importance of shape in semiotics and the relation of meaning to industrially made artworks. This multi-disciplinary concern is augmented by digital paintings, by treating found photography of catalogued art works as a blank canvas for abstractly-painted forms, thereby bringing the artist’s concentration on chance connections sharply into focus.

The industrial finish of Rhubaba’s space elevates the sculptural works on show; the backdrop brings together the works in a haphazard fashion as the viewer is presented with a number of works in a compact space. This enables a reconfiguration of the forms, as the viewer is left to discern the associations between the shapes and the art works exhibited. Although prior knowledge of Lautréamont’s importance in art historical movements would enhance the referential quality of Clarkson’s work, the boldness and clear vision of this small exhibition proves to be a thought-provoking exploration of tensions between forms and objects.