The Skinny Showcase: Fraser Gray

Gallery by Rosamund West | 16 Jul 2008

Fraser Gray

For June The Skinny Showcase presents the work of Fraser Gray, our pick of the 2008 Duncan of Jordanstone degree show. Fraser works in spray paint and emulsion to create site specific works that add finesse to a graffiti-like base through judicious finishing brush strokes, resulting in a painterly, modelled style of representation.
His decision to create predominantly site-specific work derives from his desire to resist the commodification of his artwork:
"Billie Grace Lynn recently discussed with me how easy it can be for a painting to be viewed as an 'object' or a desirable commodity.  It is this idea that painting can be a commodity (and how this can be prevented) that made me decide to further develop the site specific elements of my work,  in order to further the political aspects and to prevent contradiction."
The political aspects to which he refers are explorations of colonialist theory, manifested through his composite installations of incised painted panels, peek holes and glimpses of different planes of people, landscape, and symbol which form a cumulative language and meaning in the mind of the viewer.