Statement for the exhibition No.29 in the Eagle Feet Gallery.

This series of prints and paintings are about the materials Calum has used throughout his working life. When he studied printmaking at Falmouth, he used copper plates to make intaglio prints. The prints focused on landscape, the coast and the sea. Three themes that continue to influence his artistic career.

The copper studies are about process, the manipulation of paint, over time, creating randomised patterns and flows and delicate process over the metal surface. A playful process that creates irregular patterns.

A strong inspiration is derived from the world of electronics, this fascination began with his father’s engineering background and business. Copper (Atomic Number 29) is an excellent electrical conductor whose name is derived from the Roman ‘ore from Cyprus’, aes cyprium, later modified to ‘cuprum’ from which we derive ‘copper’. The Egyptians used The Ankhe symbol (a cross with looped top) to signify copper, which also represents eternal life.
The eighth most abundant metal on earth, copper was forged in supergiant stars that exploded as supernovae. The first metal used in any major quantity in human history, the Bronze Age is named after a copper alloy, its success is due to its resistance to corrode and easy formation into utensils and jewellery. The invention of the printing press in the 15th century vastly increased the demand for copper because of the ease with which the metal could be engraved or etched. (As a side note, in the early nineteenth century Cornwall was the greatest producer of copper in the world).

The compositions in this body of work are inspired by maritime communications. Nautical flags were originally used in ancient military encounters and by 1653 the Royal Navy issued instructions by signalling with flags. Numerous signal books were published after these systems, culminating in the International Code of Signals, which has gone through a few revisions but still proves useful as most navies still use the ICS flags for representing letters.
Each print on copper alloy are ICS flag standard forms but multilayered, like photographic film. Creating compositions from randomised sources like current news headlines, but inspired by design elements and movements of the twentieth century such as Plasticism, Dada, and Bauhaus.

Influences for this series are Anni Albers, Agnes Martin, Schwitters and designer Peter Saville. The copper prints are mostly in the standard size of vinyl or disc sleeves and use industrial printing techniques for printing direct onto copper alloys.

Two copper pieces were included in the open exhibition, YELLOW, in An Tobar Gallery from 2 Nov – 21 Dec 2019.
In 2019, the first series of copper studies were exhibited in the Eagle Feet Gallery. The exhibition was called No.29 and had over 2,000 visitors with 8 sales.
Two compositions from the copper print series were selected for the 121st Society of Scottish Artists exhibition at the Royal Scottish Academy in 2018-19.
A new copper study created in lockdown was selected for the 130th Society of Scottish Artists exhibition at the Royal Scottish Academy 2022-23.