Dundas Street Gallery was host to students from the Edinburgh College of Art this past weekend. The exhibition held an array of prints that as a whole epitomised the elusive title.
The single room was full of images, generally on a fairly small scale, and mostly simply blue-tacked to the wall in slight disarray. However, the first print on entering is framed, as if it should be seen in a higher stead. It is indeed a lovely image but this seems confusing, and somewhat unfair. In general it seems the prints are arranged thematically: a tiny print of what might be a tower block hangs next to a large architectural drawing reminiscent of Pierro Della Francesca’s perspective drawings. Some hang in series: six Tracey-Emin-like monoprints show simple images of a bird and a wigwam (apparently) among others, possibly telling some sentimental story. However, despite all these intriguing appearances it is hard to discern any meaning.
The apparent disorder of the exhibition does not help the lack of information. We are given titles, but it is hard to find the corresponding piece, which is surely detrimental to the artists. For those visitors failing to work out the art here, perhaps there should be some hints as to this intentions: why is there a set of three botanical drawings left in unpacked frames on the floor, for example? One might find this cluttered gallery somewhat easier to work out if there had at least been a theme.
Despite these negative qualities, the prints involved are interesting in their materials and technique, and often humorous, or at least pretty. No one could argue their place in a gift shop or hanging on the wall of a bedroom. It is perhaps a little too premature for such art to be within a gallery context: a little more thought was needed.