Megasites and Microtopia - Drawings by Alex Evans

For Alexander Evans sprawling cities and urban spaces have been a catalyst for his drawing practice. Although Evans focuses on the metropolis, he manages to mould masses of buildings into organic shapes; fusing the natural with the man-made and his imagination. There is a repeated reworking of an endless desire to portray the cities in his mind. Each piece is a unique imagining of a city and collectively they form a body of cities. It is not about representing the city as it is seen, but creating and recreating the horizonless, multiperspectival cities of his imagination. The result is a series of mesmerizing and detailed drawings; what is most striking within these pieces is that although there is the illusion of repetition, Evans never draws the exact same building twice.

Evans has stated that “when I draw I think, I reflect, I sing, I listen, I talk to myself, I am truly with myself in a way unrealised in many other aspects of my life”. The paper becomes the site of his thoughts and is used to reframe his life journeys and everyday encounters through simple strokes and spontaneous movements of hand and pen. Detailed cities are depicted as self replicating organisms, each following their own evolutionary journey within specific compositional constraints. Drawing therefore becomes a utopian activity in its imagining and realisation of a place. The viewer is invited to experience this new landscape and share Evans’ vision, obsession and curiosity with the cities formed in his imagination, whilst still engaging with metropolitan experience of everyday life.

About the Artist

Alexander Evans is an artist, theatre director and creative pedagogue working alongside professionals and communities in London and across Europe. Alexander trained at The University of Hull (BA Drama) and Wimbledon College of Art (MA Theatre). He lives and works in London. This series has been created using pen on paper and is the first solo showing of his work.

For further imformation or images please contact cueB Gallery at [email protected]