Up and Coming: Mark Devereux

36 ACT [ALCHEMY]

In Mark Devereux’s new work, 36ACT, the artist returns to his collection Alchemy (2004-10). Using imagery created in the early stages of this project, Devereux uses the technique of mark-making to both alter and develop works that explore notions of the sublime, cosmology and alchemy itself.

“My work explores the collision and cohesion between the boundaries of fine art, paint and photography. Taking inspiration from what we see around us and images from the media, the interpretation of my work becomes personal and discursive allowing interactions and engagement.” (Mark Devereux)

In reference to Devereux’s practice he is acutely aware of it being a combination of the technical procedures of photography and the conceptual influences of fine art. This creates tension in his work as he is challenging people’s preconceptions of the artist and photographer.

There is an extraterrestrial element that lies heavily underneath the surface of the photographs; the content is unidentifiable and has an alien quality. Brooding underneath the layers of chemical erosion is another world.

What makes Devereux’s practice so fascinating is that it somehow challenges the notion of being and raises questions about the fragility of nature. This is a cohesive theme within this series, where we are gently being probed to ask questions about our own immateriality.

Mark Devereux is a Manchester-based artist and curator. Since graduating from BA (HONS) Photography and MA Fine Art at Staffordshire University he has been involved in a number of successful exhibitions throughout the country. Devereux is also the Director and founder of Blank Media Collective, an arts organisation championing the work of emerging practitioners from around the world.

* Partial text from curator Taneesha Ahmed

Up and Coming: Evi Lemberger

Transcarpathia is a region in the West of Ukraine, which is surrounded by the natural border of the Carpathian mountains and artificial borders of Hungary, Slovakia and Romania. Within the 20^th century it used to belong to 7 different countries: until 1918 it belonged to Hungary, then for 20 years to Czech Slovakia, for two weeks it became an autonomous country. Then till 1944 it belonged to Hungary and to the Soviet Union and since 1991 to the new founded Ukraine. Nowadays the area is quite dismissed by the government. Statistically, it suffers from about 80 to 90 percent unemployment and most people have their own land and animals in order to get their food. Many different nationalities and religions are settling down in this region. The language and time is set to Ukrainian or Hungarian, which is one hour behind time, a situation that a lot of different countries are facing.

Above all, East European Countries such as Romania, Hungary, Slovakia and Slovenia are dealing with this problem. These countries, which were part of the big Habsburg Kingdom, were split up and since then, it seems more than a game to ruling countries: borders were changed and countries were founded according to their geographical location and political interests rather than according to their history, language or culture. Thereby there has been no consideration for the society and culture of the people, who have to deal with the outcome.
As part of my photographic investigation I travelled to Transcarpathia. Talking to people from different national and religious backgrounds I tried to find answers on my search for identity.