David Lemm

Jon Schueler Scholarship
2017 - 18

Works produced as part of the Jon Schueler Scholarship whilst Visual Artist In Residence at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, Skye. During this time I considered the development of the new village of Kilbeg which was due to be built next to the SMO campus.

Signs for Kilbeg
Watercolour, graphite and wax on found admiralty chart in artist’s frame.
24 x 24cm

Based on seemingly signifcant scenes observed in the emerging landscape, these drawings form a speculative signage system for the future village. The deliberately restricted visual language is based on a drawing system I developed during the residency to reflect my limited ability to communicate in Gaelic.


Waxing Moon, Setting Sun
Cyanotype series
27.5 x 36cm each

The images were created using a combination of found Plaster of Paris (from in a store cupboard, which coincidentally had the last day of the residency as the use by date) and collected plastic cups. These plastic cups were used throughout the college and could not be recycled. I calculated approximately 16,800 would have been used during my 3 month stay. The college now use compostable cups.

Process
During the three month stay, I considered various aspects of Gaelic culture, exploring ethnographic methodologies and the idea of place, whilst responding to the surrounding landscape through process led research.