Preparation for an exhibition can entail some unexpected experiences. In particular, I have in mind at the moment the rediscovery of work I forgot that I had ever done. The process of selecting paintings for display has been a relatively straightforward one. (I did decide eventually that I needed to alter slightly the manner in which one piece had been framed.) The surprise followed my realisation that the gallery had mentioned the fact that they have racks for the display of prints.
I have a drawer in the studio in which I keep paintings which have been turned into prints, and decided that it would be useful to see what might be in there. It yielded several surprises. There were some items that had slipped from my memory, produced several years ago, but at least I recognised them. Some pieces were relatively familiar, but did not really belong in the context I’m contemplating at the moment. Two pieces I had turned into print-versions, but I thought that I had sold the limited run I produced. In fact, I had still a couple of copies of each which I might include in the show. Then there was actually an item which I had forgotten entirely. It is a rather accomplished drawing (although I say it myself) of a still-life consisting mainly of fungi. What a pleasant surprise!
The experience has been remarkable not only for the pleasure of realising that I will be able to make a respectable contribution to the print racks. Much more interesting has been the surprising discovery that it is possible to forget entirely pictures into which I had evidently invested a good deal of creative energy at some time in the past. Although the two copies I have are both numbered, for some reason or another I forgot to date them. There will be a record in my log-books, but I have not yet had the opportunity to do the necessary “archaeology”.
It is quite nice to have the experience of asking, “Gosh! Did I do that?”