The enclosed flame burns more fiercely and if it grows, be it ever so little, it can in no way be concealed.   Francesco Petrarch, 1304–1374

‘This is our Intense Desire' is the first solo show of new carbon works by Richard Devereux.

The exhibition comprises Devereux's most ambitious artworks to date, using a process of applying carbon to paper via the use of a flame that he first developed in 1986. In this exhibition, he uses the technique on a much larger scale than previously, some of the art works reaching over 6 foot. The cumulative effect is both expansive and encroaching.

His more recent practice has taken Richard Devereux away from sculpture and into the use of an array of ‘signature' materials, among them limestone, lead, gold and zinc, in mostly wall-based works.

But it is the element Carbon that has the most enduring fascination for the artist. He is interested in fundamentals, in carbon the elemental substance wherein life is created and to which it returns.

Devereux's practice is informed by deep contemplation and meditation; indeed the show's title alludes to a mantra that is used in meditation. Devereux is interested in offering up an artwork that invites the viewer to meditate, but also to respond and explore.  

‘Allowing for an overarching response has been a vital aspect of this body of work', he says. ‘[There is] no prescriptive intervention, no single definition, they hover in a twilight region.'

As such, these new works escape context – be it historical, cultural or spatial – and also deny the hand that made them – there are no brush strokes, no evidence of artistic decision-making. Instead, they appear as phenomena on the walls.

Devereux's friend, the meditation mentor Martin Griffiths writes about the artist's work: ‘carbon … may be said to represent the ‘ground' in [Devereux's] works. Emerging – arising – from this ground is the metaphysical gift, the moment of truth we may realise within ourselves.

This new exhibition of work by Richard Devereux follows an exhibition of ten years' work by the artist at Bend in the River in May/June 2005. The gallery will be taking the artist to the London Art Fair in January 2008.

Artist resume

Richard Devereux was born in 1956 in Lincoln, England, and studied at Portsmouth College of Art in the mid 1970s. He has lived and maintained a studio in Lincoln for a number of years.

His recent exhibition history includes:  Art 99 (London and Miami), New Art Centre, Salisbury, Wilts; Cairn Gallery, Gloucs; Yorkshire Sculpture Park; Hart Gallery, London and Angel Row in Nottingham.   Most recently he has been involved with Lacerta in Dorset, a collaboration with Susan Michie, Brian Graham and Simon Lewty .