ON DISPLAY: Everyday Abstraction by Marcus Davies
Rather than telling a specific story, Davies’ work focuses on how visual elements interact within the frame. His images highlight the core principles of photography —light, shadow, and form— while allowing space for individual interpretation. By removing extraneous detail, viewers are encouraged to engage with the fundamental structures of visual experience.
In Elastica, Davies drops elastic bands onto a plain white background and photographs them as they land. The process is straightforward—there is no intervention beyond framing the result. The bands twist and overlap unpredictably, creating spontaneous forms that emphasize tension, movement, and spatial relationships. The simplicity of the materials contrasting with the complexity of the final compositions.
In contrast, Film introduces a more structured arrangement, incorporating strips of cine film alongside abstract shapes. This series draws inspiration from the abstract paintings of his father, Thomas Nathaniel Davies, exploring the tension between organic and geometric forms. The addition of film—sourced from Davies’ collection of Super-8 football reels—adds a tactile layer, linking photography to memory and materiality. The juxtaposition of rigid forms and fluid movement reflects an ongoing investigation into balance and composition.
