History

Five Years present(ed) an exhibition of experimental photographic drawings, devised during a year long residency at Mutton Fist Press. The drawings of the artist Mary Yacoob, adapting the materials and conceptual tools of technical plan drawing, describe a cryptic architecture of imaginary schematics.

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Created under ultraviolet light, the works are both influenced by and evoke the geometry of machine tools, astrolabes, circular and rotating “tacho” discs, gearboxes depicted in cross-section and the dispersion of electrons in a cloud chamber or crystals in a storm glass. With subtle texture and mysterious coloration, these drawings transmit energy through light and line, through rhythmic gestural actions and transformations.

Mary Yacoob’s practice encompasses pen and ink drawing on paper, print-making, wall drawing, large format vinyl artworks and luminous constructions. She appropriates visual languages from architectural plans, maps, geological and engineering diagrams, and from alphabets and musical notation.

A private view on 23 January included the launch of an exhibition catalogue, featuring all the works on show and a transcript of the artist in conversation with Bob and Roberta Smith. As part of Schema, Mary ran several cyanotype workshops, with the general public and with local children from Friends of Fairbridge and Duncombe School.