Toby Paterson @ Fruitmarket Gallery

The open spaces of the Fruitmarket Gallery afford a pleasant luxury, the freedom to explore and to wander from one piece of art to the next within their unique rooms. Toby Paterson in the Fruitmarket, however, proves somewhat different…

Suspended, untreated, wooden frames act like the walls of a maze, guiding you through the works on the lower floor. Angular and rigid, these frames reinforce Paterson’s preoccupation with urban landscapes and architectural structure. The use of clear perspex encourages a multi-layered sense of viewing. Much like a cityscape, nothing is confined and segregated, but instead one can catch a glimpse of a work through the reflection or framework of another.

Many of the works on display present deconstructed and abstracted versions of actual sites, the photos of which are neatly presented as an aside to the main display. The work takes shape in a variety of forms, from two-dimensional paintings in acrylic on paper or perspex, to three-dimensional constructions. The acrylic on canvas was a little disappointing, due not to the content, but to the lack of consideration taken as it was framed. The paper has noticeable air bubbles, and even crumpled edges on one piece, which poses as a distraction from the content.

Beyond this hiccup, the works are enjoyable. They can be related to artistic plays upon the style of technical drawing, respecting the logic of perspective, yet playing with notions of colour and shadow. The colours often appear in block, reminiscent of printing techniques, yet entirely precise, in a manner only painting could achieve. However, the constructions and layout of works seem to appeal more than the works themselves. The works on perspex intrigued, yet the works overall failed to stimulate the thoughts of this particular viewer, and though completely commendable, failed to convey any deeper concept than an abstracted comment on urban architecture.