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“In order to understand the world around me, sometimes I need to focus on a small bit of it” – Mark Burrell

Mark Burrell is from Newcastle upon Tyne in the North East of England, as we’ve said before, we like his adventure, his movement, his energy and yes, his artistic commitment. We particularly like his sense of materials, his thoughtful combinations and his visual restraint, a Mark Burrell piece is never too crowded, never too overworked, it is important to know where to stop, I like the space to be found as well as the sense of colour, his seemingly effortless way of doing things.

“Mark strives for an economy of means, the attempt to do the most with the least. He is highly sensitive in his use of material. Substances are often used spectacularly. Mark seeks to make the ordinary extraordinary. I consider Mark’s sensitivity, sense of self-discipline and contemplativeness to distinguish him as an artist.” (Simon Granger)

Mark himself says “In my work, I have for many years, been particularly drawn to the random nature of using found objects. I love the unexpected and often random aspects of where the materials might direct me – and the joy is never knowing where that journey will end up. I also have a love of haiku poetry which has inspired me to strive for an economy of means in my work, in the attempt to do the most with the least. My aim is to take often the poorest and simplest  of materials and do something spectacular with them. Creating arenas of activity – Places where the mundane and the ordinary can take on the power to transform. I am additionally fascinated by the patina these found materials can bring to the pieces and the storytelling possibilities they offer”.

Mark has been taking a pro-active part in our Cultivate online exhibitions for two or three years now, we’ve constantly invited him back to be part of our group shows. We enjoy his constant need to make art, his evolution, his forward movement as an artist. I find it exciting to be able to gather this fraction of his output and see these pieces all gathered together here in one place in this exhibition. I enjoy watching his social media feeds, Mark is an artist who’s work excites me, one of the artists who make me want to curate..  (Sean Worrall)   

Please click on an image to enlarge it and see each piece of art in full or to run the slide show and do please please please view it all on a decent sized monitor, something more respectful than just a phone, surely the art deserves more than just a tiny phone… Thank you

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Mark Burrell links – Website / Instagram / Facebook

And that was it, a 32nd Cultivate on-line exhibition, the sixth of seven that make up our 2023 Spring Season, and something like the 187th Cultivate show in all.  A big big thanks to anyone and everyone who has visited the exhibition, a big big thanks to Mark.

Once again this show has been curated by Cultivate founders Emma Harvey and Sean Worrall.

If you do feel like making a small donation – We bring all this art, music and underculture to you for free, we really don’t want to clutter up our pages with annoying adverts, no one wants that, but it does take up a lot of time, hours and hours of time. If you should feel like supporting Organ/Cultivate (for it is one in the same) by making a small donation to help keep all this flowing that would be delightful, thank you.

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Coming next? The final show in terms of Cultivate’s Spring Season of on-line exhibitions, another group show, an April Mixtape, Mixtape No.5, opening on April 25th. We shall then break from Cultivate on-line shows until early Autumn to focus on physical events. We think this Spring Season has been worthwhile, I imagine we’ll do it all again …