Artwork
1+1 2305990 (one of a series)
1+1 2305990 (one of a series) is a drawing by Frances Richardson. It dates from 1999 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Frances Richardson’s 1999 drawing “1+1 2305990” belongs to a series of works that turn simple arithmetic into something visual.
The piece turns the endless rings of a tree trunk into a pattern of repeated marks. Richardson trained in Nigeria, where she learned how wood carries time and meaning.
This method relates to the way computers build shapes from tiny steps.
Look up stippling next.
Overview
This drawing is part of a series titled '1+1' by Frances Richardson, created in 1999. It translates a simple arithmetic operation into a visual representation.
Subject & Meaning
The work explores the pattern of a tree's annual rings, symbolizing the passage of time and the organic structure of wood. Richardson's experience with woodcarving in Nigeria, where wood is imbued with spiritual significance, informs the drawing's themes.
Technique & Style
The drawing employs repetitive marks to create a pattern, echoing the methodical process of computer-generated shapes. Richardson uses mathematical symbols to define form and express space ambiguously, blending the mathematical with the organic.
History & Provenance
Richardson trained in woodcarving in Nigeria, influencing her artistic approach. The drawing is related to another work in the collection, E.453-1999.
Artist & collection
Artist
