Intrigued by their commanding structures, constant change and growth, construction and demolition sites have provided continual subject matter and inspiration. In the initial stages of my research I was mainly concerned with the physicality of the sites and the aesthetic qualities found juxtaposed in the bold structures, the raw materials and the intricacy of their composition. These aspects still form a fundamental part of my research but as well as looking at the spaces as scenes and structures, I am also interested in looking at these industrial sites as forms of narrative.
Construction and demolitions sites are areas of regeneration within our cities. Looking beyond the outer structures one finds disruption and intervention; chips, drips, scuffs and scratches, creating “accidental” or “unintentional” surfaces. There is evidence of past lives and past tenses. There are floors worn away from years of footprints, peeling wallpaper revealing trends and personality, lines and cracks appearing as though an aged face. All these glimpses of the past are then combined with the present – temporary installation of objects like scaffolding, safety netting and shuttering, which have a sense of immediacy and purpose. And then, a hint of the future – the installation of new concrete structures, cables, pipes, lights. All of these aspects combined, begin to create layers of narrative and emphasise the constant change and growth within these sites and the city.
The “structure” based works, are created through building up marks and layers emulating the different stages of the sites as they develop on a daily basis. The “textural” works look more at the fabric of these places. In consciously studying and recreating the marks deliberately, emulating the effects of human presence, nature and time on the surfaces, the narratives found in these places and objects take on a new purpose, life and meaning in the work.
Gaynor studied at Edinburgh College of Art from 2005 - 2009 with a period of study at ANU in 2008. Gaynor continues to live and work in Edinburgh.