Archipelago

An archipelago is not a single land, but a constellation of islands held together by the pull of proximity.

As poet John Donne said, “No man is an island.” Existence, identity and meaning unfold through others. No individual stands in complete isolation. We learn, absorb, echo and reshape ourselves through the presence of those around us in dialogue, in conflict, in shared time, space, and making.

This exhibition at the Southwark Park Galleries features a diverse spectrum of work created by this year’s MA Print cohort from the Royal College of Art. Bound together by the medium of print as the archipelago is bound by the tides, but disparate in their approaches and outcomes. Each artist stands as an island with their own methods, materials, and intentions. Still, studio rhythms overlap, conversations drift across tables, ideas wash up like tides.

‘Archipelago’ identifies shared nuances– how individuality and togetherness shape one another, forming a collective landscape that is both fragmented and whole. We work independently, yet never alone; our practices touch, collide, depart, and return. This exhibition invites you to navigate between these islands– to pause and observe the constellations of thought.

Private View: 22 February, 2-4pm