AN EXHIBITION blending art and poetry is continuing this month at Dunoon MOCA, (Museum of Contemporary Arts), showcasing the unique letterpress works of Andrew
Morrison.
The show, titled Edj (and other poems), opened on Saturday, August 9 and will run until August 30, bringing together Morrison’s skills as a visual artist, poet, graphic designer, and master printer.
Morrison produces all of his works by hand, using traditional moveable type on a vintage press. Some of the type is carved from wood, and when letters are missing, he carves them himself. But while the method is traditional, the focus is firmly on the concept of ‘visual poetry’ – works where colour, design and text carry equal weight.
Visitors to the gallery will find walls of postcards and broadsides, each featuring short poetic phrases in bold type and striking colours.
One postcard reads simply: MOON / JUNE / DUNOON. Another framed piece combines the words NOCTURNAL / LONGITUDE / UNRAVELLING. Morrison says these works can be read individually or across multiple frames to form new associations.
The exhibition also features Edj 2023, in which texts are printed around the edges of pages in the International Phonetic Alphabet, as well as a series of delicate handmade books. Many of these can be handled carefully by visitors, offering an intimate insight into Morrison’s creative process.
His books explore themes of memory, relationships, misunderstandings, and the “mysterious in the everyday.” They are held in major national collections including the British Library, the National Poetry Library, and the Tate Library in London.
Speaking about his practice, Morrison describes being drawn to the physicality of materials and the balance between text and image: “I use simple narratives or sequential structures where text is image, or where image and text share equal presence.”
The exhibition has already drawn attention for its unusual presentation and playful approach to language, with organisers encouraging the public to come along and experience something both thought-provoking and accessible.
Further details can be found at www.dunoon- moca.com.
