Calum Stevenson

Calum Stevenson (b. 1997, Falkirk, Scotland) previously graduated with a BA(Hons) in Fine Arts from Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design in 2019. Recipient of the Sandra McNeilance Prize for Drawing & Painting in 2019, and the ACS Materials prize in 2018. Recent exhibitions at Heinzel Gallery, Aberdeen in 2019 & 2020.

Through his practice, Stevenson has examined aspects of his surroundings and represented his perception of the world to the viewer, touching on the fear in society which is generated by the control of the state. The collection of paintings and digital collage are sculpted by Scottish surroundings of brutalist architecture and deteriorating social housing, as well as personal experiences of violent protests, both of which comment on the oppressing themes within our contemporary society.

His recent approach to painting is a combination of figurative and abstraction. By removing the hand from painting this creates uncontrolled marks and gestures, introducing an element of serendipity to the work, whilst police figures are rendered in a controlled state to reinforce the authoritarian response. The abstract backgrounds represent the unpredictable environments and events which transpire. Our superficially certain reality is questioned by recent events and reveals the fragility and instability in society.

Most of the work appears in negative, which is a result of his interest in digital integration and the relationship between human life and technology. In his development stage, images are digitally manipulated before being translated onto the canvas, which sees Stevenson become part of that machine process.