STEINGOLD CONTEMPORARY

Ewan David’s Eason’s artistic practice is rooted in his passion for cartography. His background in fine art and graphic design lends itself to a methodical and meticulous investigation into maps that have shaped history. Whilst deconstructing their lines, Eason also explores their organic and man-made patterns and creates a dialogue concerning our sociological development. These cartographic snapshots become a sacred documentation of an ever-evolving world. The intricate use of gilding highlights not only the preciousness of the landscapes depicted but also the diversity and sanctity of the environments that sustain us.

The discovery of Charles Booth’s Descriptive Map of London Poverty from 1889 was pivotal for Eason. An early example of social cartography, Booth set out to indicate the income and social classes of London’s inhabitants using a colour coded system for every street in the city. Eason observed that these blocks of colours became an abstract image in themselves. By removing the colours and replacing them with one colour; gold, he reconfigures the city into an egalitarian one. Eason has since continued to explore these themes through present-day and historical maps. His works speak to the fluidity of our geography and collective history.

Ewan David’s Eason (b. 1979, Ashford, Kent) has exhibited extensively including at The Barbican, Christie’s, The Royal Academy Summer Exhibition and a solo show at 45 Park Lane, London. His work is regularly exhibited at international art fairs.