Loft Gallery, St Margaret’s Hope, South Ronaldsay, Orkney, until 1 May 2007

(Foreground) Pirate of the Sky by John Shapter, Mixed media. Photo: Rik Hammond.

THERE’S something very Zen about the fact that John Shapter’s most recent exhibition is situated such a short distance away from where he lives. So short, in fact, that you can hold your breath for the length of time it takes to walk between the artist’s studio (ironically, his garden shed), and the aptly named Loft Gallery. From ‘shed’ to ‘loft’ – something quietly meaningful in the journey taken by the work, the artist and the viewer.

The work in ‘SHED’ covers the period since the artist’s house flooded in 2005 (where much of his work was destroyed), and consists of over 30 recent works – from woodblock prints to three-dimensional constructions. It’s an ideal opportunity to see a good selection of the artist’s work together in one location – in fact, the first time in Orkney we’ve been treated to this.

There’s also the chance to see a number of pieces from his recent series, ‘Pocket Tools for Dealing with Life’ – a small set of witty, pocket sculptures crafted from wood, silver and objets trouvés – with instructions for use included.

This reviewer has had the opportunity to engage with this vein of the artist’s work up close and personal before – during his exhibition ‘Coming of Age’ in 2006 at the Peedie Gallery (the art gallery in a shoebox – www.peediegallery.co.uk), where Shapter presented the viewer with three faux archaeological objects, found by the artist on an Orkney shoreline and attributed to a mysterious and mythical society known as the ‘Bay People’.

The ‘Pocket Tools’ series sees the artist take this idea further, with a collection of personal tools to deal with some of life’s hazards, such as bullying, arrogance, relationships and bull**it. One of the tools, titled, ‘Leaving Your Stamp on Life’, consists of a tiny wooden stamp with a blank silver plate, designed to be engraved with the owner’s initials. The instructions humourously read, ‘Press firmly into flesh of those around you’. Another, a gruesome silver-bladed utensil (the reader may be interested to discover at this point that Mr. Shapter is also a dentist), for dealing with Arrogance, states, ‘Be prepared for resistance – but persistance is usually rewarded’.

John’s prints, perhaps more familiar to his audience, are often limited to very small editions of woodblock prints (he often uses windfall or recycled timber for his woodblocks), or one-off monoprints. They deal with a range of themes – from life and death, sex, fertility and harvest, to the seasons and the agricultural cycles of the rural landscape – and are well represented in this show at the Loft.

Those who know John’s work well (both as a visual artist and also as a poet), will be aware of what he calls his ‘vocabulary of symbols’ – a quasi-cryptic, secret alphabet and language of shapes and symbols – which are found throughout his work. The symbols are often sourced from the landscape, and the artist uses them in his work to provide us with clues (and, sometimes, just good old plain advice) on how to understand better the world in which we all live.

He does this with a sense of humour, as well as with a calm, peaceful approach. Even when he deals with difficult issues, he does so with a reassuring, if sometimes incisive, voice.

John grew up in remote and rural locations, and this, combined with the fact that his father was a carpenter, cabinetmaker and teacher of craft, reveals to the viewer of his work, his understanding and empathy with nature and the elements.

The information accompanying the exhibition reads: “As a child, my world was full of the smell of fresh sawdust and I was taught about the properties of different woods, the importance of grain and seasoning. It is not a surprise to me that I find working with wood a spiritual experience, and it has a natural place in my practice of art.”

‘SHED’ pulls together a cross-section of the artist’s work from the last three years, and, as the artist relates, “represents several different strands of thought”. It’s well worth the trip to the Loft Gallery to see it – whether you’ve a long journey to make, or if it’s just a few steps across the road. Watch out for more work by the artist in a group show of work at Yesnaby in May.

© Rik Hammond, 2007