David Merritt: aweigh

Expand

Image credit: Michael McNair

David Merritt, "aweigh," 2010-20

sisal rope/fibre, dimensions variable

David Merritt’s multimedia practice explores the commonalities and fault lines between human and non-human systems. His process-driven, conceptually-oriented work develops out of the material and performative possibilities of drawing’s expanded field.  Whether works on paper, sculptural or media-based, the projects seek to actualize the dynamics of time--teasing out the urgencies, and emergences of a common present placed on the cusp of disappearing.

Merritt’s works have been exhibited nationally and internationally, including the National Gallery of Canada, Art Gallery of Ontario, the Powerplant, the Textile Museum of Canada and TENT CBK, Rotterdam. A touring survey exhibition of recent work, shim/sham/shimmy, was circulated in 2010 by Museum London in collaboration with the Art Gallery of Hamilton. Merritt lives in London, Ontario, where he teaches at Western University. His work is represented by Christie Contemporary, Toronto.

aweigh is one of two large works Merritt has produced involving the unravelling and subsequent suspension of industrial sisal fibre rope. Adapted to site, the project mounted at Empty Gallery is the third iteration of a piece first staged at the Art Gallery of Hamilton in 2010.