Eyes down in Plymouth

Ian Woo (from Island Vernacular at Peninsula Gallery)

Long overdue visit to Plymouth. I was in town to see i-DAT about possible involvement in my banana project and did a quick run around the nearby galleries.  

First up, the restaurant-formerly-known-as-Plymouth-Arts-Centre to see Ula Dajerling's Dark Materialism, a petite exhibition of four pieces concerned with transformative processes.  It's shown as part of a wider programme of films and events focused on a re-examination of Modernist concerns.  Upstairs I tried to see James Eden's Formative but there were too many people in the way. Eating. Until 28 March.

On to Hannah James' The outline seems indelible at Plymouth College of Art, a spare collection of photographs, audio monologues and wall prints informed by Robbe-Grillet's novel La Jalousie. I enjoyed this very restrained exhibition, but felt it was perhaps asking more of me than it was prepared to give. Until 1 March.

And to Peninsula Arts to see Island Vernacular which brings together two Singapore-based painters: Milenko Prvacki and Ian Woo.  I realise it's a long time since I stood in a whole gallery full of paintings - and I've almost forgotten how to look at them. Painting is indeed a different language.  Until 23 February.