Modular Locus / In conversation with Freeny Yianni

FY Tell us a bit about your approach to your work. How would you describe it? What are you looking for in a subject? How has your style developed, and what matters to you?

CE Sometime back in 1984 I saw, and used, the first Apple Mac computer to be imported to the UK. It was an important moment and one that resonates to this day. In that moment I decided I wanted to use digital systems tools to draw my work, as opposed to the more traditional media I was being trained to use. In some senses, you could characterise this as the difference between rock music and electronica. Rock music remains super relevant of course, esp the post-rock movement, but there seems to be space in the discourse for a more contemporary means of production too.

The digital offers a host of revolutionary options, many of which revolve around the idea of the edit, and the remix. Effectively you can draw, colour and model, and then refine, edit and remix, to arrive at images that simply weren’t possible to create before the digital revolution.

In conversation with Freeny Yianni at the Brewhouse Gallery, March 2020.

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Coda at Close / catalogue

Coda at Close / catalogue

Coda at Close was published to mark the opening of my solo exhibition at Close House in March 2011. Curated by Freeny Yianni, ex Lisson Gallery, the exhibition featured around thirty works installed throughout the main reception rooms at Freeny’s stunning C18th home in Somerset. The 68 page catalogue features an interview with Matthew Collings and in situ photography by Stephen White. The catalogue was designed and beautifully produced by Herman Lelie.

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The Chancy Element / In conversation with Matthew Collings

MC I can see the images are computer generated. I respond to the intricacy, rhythms, playfulness, but I’ve no idea what technical processes are involved. I see very beautiful visual relationships, and I imagine from their intensity that creating them involves a high degree of labour, as with any artistic process, and in fact, it’s basically drawing...?

CE Yes, every part of the image is hand drawn. But you could argue about whether what I do is really drawing or not. Both my brothers are artists. And we have a lively debate all the time. One of them tells me that drawing is always “pencil on paper.”

Chuck Elliott and Matthew Collings in conversation at Close House.

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