Kari De Koenigswarter and Malize McBride

Rockscapes

Saturday 25th March – Sunday 14th May

Artists Kari de Koenigswarter and Malize McBride have been engaged for many years in the study of rock. Not just in a scientific, geological sense but rock in all its associations and cultural meanings.
 ‘Rock is fundamental to all our lives’, says Malize, ‘it is our bank of raw materials and our oldest history book.’
Though they have different approaches the two artists have frequently worked together. Since 2004 they have been on annual working expeditions to a variety of locations from Fife to Sutherland, Argyllshire to Banffshire, the isle of Lewis and Tuscany.
These times, usually three weeks outdoors in all weathers, involve intensive sketching, painting, researching and sharing new techniques and ideas.
Although they work in different media both artists see their collaboration as not only critically valuable but also constantly stimulating.
Kari’s main focus for some years has been on the use of beeswax and raw pigments. This allows her to create images which have a strong physical weight and presence, just like the rocks she is representing.
‘The durability of beeswax is legendary’, she says, ‘it is impervious to moisture and so will not deteriorate, yellow or darken. There are paintings dating from the first century AD which are as vibrant and colourful as the day they were made.’

Malize is primarily interested in the geology of Scotland and uses many different media to express her fascination with the vast timescales and colossal forces revealed by geology. These include using graphite, watercolour, acrylic and a variety of printing techniques. She also takes rubbings directly from the rocks in the landscape and sometimes incorporates rock dust into the works themselves.
This exhibition brings together two complementary artists who share a visceral and tactile connection to the rockscapes around us.

Malize McBride MA, MFA - Studied at St Andrews university, University of Strathclyde, Open College of Art and Edinburgh College of Art

Kari de Koenigswarter - Studied at Edinburgh College of Art and Leith School of Art, and printmaking at Dundee Contemporary Arts Centre and Edinburgh Printmakers.
 
She received the Scott-Kestin Wildlife Award

Both artists have exhibited widely in the UK and further afield.

Exhibition website: http://www.aberfeldywatermill.com/art/exhibition

Exhibition website: http://www.aberfeldywatermill.com/art/exhibition

 More details of all these events on their website