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Diary of an Egg Collector

Artist: Summerton, Edward, RSA · b. 1962Author: Fagen, Graham, RSA · b. 1966Printer: Montgomery Litho Group

Diary of an Egg Collector

The publication distributer, Printed Matter, New York, states that Diary of an Egg Collector “juxtaposes the quaint and innocuous hobby of egg…

The publication distributer, Printed Matter, New York, states that Diary of an Egg Collector “juxtaposes the quaint and innocuous hobby of egg collecting with personal notes that collectively tell the story of Scotland and the UK during the days of punk and Thatcherism. Graham Fagen's entries begin in 1969 and end in 2007, and each consists of a meticulously rendered egg painting by Edward Summerton alongside Fagen's handwritten entries, which identify the origin of the egg and then digress into areas of social commentary, humor, and personal anecdote” (http://www.tathagallery.com/artist/edward-summerton/#biography – sourced 2016-04-05)

Gallery Visitors Dip Into Surrealism
Da Gadderie, the art gallery in the Shetland Museum and Archives, is hosting an exhibition with a surreal twist. "Warm Leveret", by Edward Summerton, illustrates Summerton's fascination with the representation of nature and natural history. Inspired by book illustrations, museum dioramas and field recordings, he explores the environment using paintings, books, prints, photographs, sound works, objects and collaborations.
His representation of nature challenges pre-conceptions and seeks to make viewers see familiar images in new and unexpected ways. At first glance, the paintings invite the viewer to enjoy a skillfully rendered image drawn from the natural world, but a closer engagement brings out disconcerting elements of surprise and, occasionally, horror.
Currently a lecturer and researcher for the School of Fine Art, Duncan of Jordanstone College, University of Dundee, Edward Summerton has taught some of Shetland's talented contemporary artists. He has exhibited internationally in both solo and group exhibitions and recently collaborated with the artist Graham Fagen on the limited edition publication, "Diary of an Egg Collector", which will be available through Da Gadderie.
John Hunter, Shetland Museum and Archives exhibitions officer, said: “One of the interesting aspects of painting is that the laws of nature can be suspended. Visual illusions and juxtapositions can be created on canvas that cannot exist anywhere else. In Eddie's case he takes advantage of this to portray very personal visions. His skill as a painter lures the viewer into a world of magical realism where things are often not as they should be. He interprets and manipulates natural history imagery to give the work a new life. The results are disconcerting and unsettling, sometimes humorous and often attention-grabbing. His work draws inspiration from contemporary culture such as music and film as well as mythology and nature. There's something of the wildlife illustrator meets William Burroughs, about this exhibition.” Warm Leveret will be in Da Gadderie until 26th April. (http://www.shetland.org/60n/blogs/posts/april-2010-newsletter - sourced 2016-04-05)

published by Shetland Museum and Archive, in a limited numbered edition of 500 copies

© Royal Scottish Academy of Art & Architecture