Oliver David Reed, b. Beverley, East Yorkshire, England 1970.
“The world is not simply available; it is achieved rather than given” Alva Noë ‘Varieties of Presence’ 2012
My work relates to the natural environment, of space, time and memory, moving from one point of focus to another, whilst bodies of work also shift in their focus of employing various processes and approaches.
Walking and haptics play an important role when gathering reference materials. The sense of touch and walking through a space is central to informing my perception. These experiences are then built upon through employing other means of recording, such as drawing, photography and recently, the use of Lidar.
When returning to the studio, it is the combination of the experience, which helps to act as a visualization aid a trigger for the memory, and perceptions whilst recorded materials can build on the perceived knowledge. It is arguably this binary relationship between the embodied experience of ‘being in’ the landscape and being 'in the studio' that is central to my enquiry.
In my most recent series Ecotone, a word used in ecology to describe the transitional space between two biological communities, where two communities meet and integrate. Acts as a linking word between the ‘on-site’ experience and the studio, between the digitally generated and traditional drawing and painting approaches.
Employment
Head of Arts, Centre for Open Learning, University of Edinburgh.
Studied
UAL: Postgraduate Certificate in H.E. - Learning & Teaching (2007)
Master’s of Fine Arts Degree at Edinburgh College of Art (1999)
Fine Art (Hon's) Degree at Hull College of Art (1993)
Foundation Diploma at Leeds College of Art (1989)
Solo Exhibitions
11/17-2/18 'Varieties of Presence', Tweeddale Gallery, Peebles, Scotland.
5/08-6/08 Superficial Intrusions, Hull College of Art & Design, England.
Group Exhibitions
12/20-1/21 'Flow' Visual Arts Scotland Members Winter Show.
11/20-12/20 'Landscape & Memory' Koel Gallery, Karachi, Pakistan (reviewed).
1/2019 ‘Alight’ - Visual Arts Scotland Exhibition, RSA, Edinburgh.
12/2016 ‘Fly’ - Visual Arts Scotland Exhibition, RSA, Edinburgh.
2/2015 ‘Converge’ - Visual Arts Scotland Exhibition, RSA, Edinburgh.
9/14-10/14 ‘Fabric of the Land’, The SMART Gallery, Aberdeen, Scotland.
7/14-10/14 ‘Beyond Land’, BP Atrium Gallery, Aberdeen, Scotland.
6/12-8/12 Flat Cat Gallery, Lauder, Scottish Borders, Scotland.
5/12-6/12 Duns Castle, Scottish Borders, Scotland.
2009 Environmental Sculpture, iPark, East Haddam Connecticut, USA.
12/08 ‘Open Studios’, iPark, East Haddam, Connecticut, USA.
5/08-5/08 ‘Art for Rosie’ Open Eye Gallery, Edinburgh, Scotland.
4/00-5/00 Wasps, (Stockbridge Gallery), Edinburgh.
1992 Student Art Show, Maastricht, Netherlands.
AIR (artist in residence)
2013 ‘Outlandia’, Glen Nevis, Scotland. (unfinished).
2008 iPark, East Haddam, Connecticut, USA
1998 Cleveland Institute of Art, Ohio, USA.
Site-Specific Works
1999 'Focal Stone', Edinburgh International Conference Centre, Scotland.
Films, Articles and Lecture
2018 'Varieties of Presence' Open Lecture, University of Edinburgh
2014 Documentary film by Sana Bilgrami for 'Art in Healthcare' ‘Artist Uncovered’.
2014 ‘Artist Uncovered’ - An article by Martine Foltier Pugh, ‘Art in Healthcare’.
Professional Body
Visual Arts Scotland - Council Member (2015-2017)