De Brock Gallery presents the second exhibition of British artist Lawrence Calver. In this show, Calver presents a selection of artworks from his ongoing series of Sail Paintings that tell maritime stories through the use of textiles. The artist, who describes himself as a searcher and scavenger, uses reclaimed and recycled fabrics that he has collected over time. These fabrics, originally used for rugs, clothing and flags, expose the customs, cultures and craft techniques of their origins.
Through his training as a fashion designer, Lawrence Calver learned about the potential of textiles as a narrative medium and has since combined traditional techniques with a modern eye.
The sail as a material and subject has increasingly become a preeminent preoccupation of Calver’s work in recent years. The simple form of a sailboat is deconstructed and abstracted until only the sail itself dominates the canvas. Rust stains and burnt ropes bear witness to the once nautical past and lend the minimalist and subtle works a sculptural physicality.
