JAMES BAKER

James Baker

'Over the last few years I have slowly adopted mono-printing as my primary form of mark making. My preferred technique involves drawing onto paper laid on top of printing ink. The ink is transferred onto the paper from the pressure of the drawing, presenting a final reversed image. This technique demands an element of chance and a neccessary loss of control as I am unable to see the resulting image. The richness and quality of the various marks are much more engaging than the initial pencil marks on the reverse.'

We have collated these preparatory studies from James and presented them for the 'Correspondence' show, his first solo show. The work offers a further insight into his practise and motivations. 'Correspondence' includes a series of collaborative pieces with Canadian photography artist Boopsie Daisy. This experimental collaboration allowed James to succesfully integrate elements of 'global reach' into his own practise.

All the work has the familar theme of distopia. James presents his 'other world' population of 'Yesyoucanistan' as the bizare product of far reaching cultural hybridity. When, infact he draws direct reference from images across the internet and those collated on his own travels. Some of these images are printed over dated maps and antique religious music scores - James' deliberate marks perhaps suggesting a new chaotic world order.