‘Associative Drifts’- Roddy Maude-Roxby

About

Maude-Roxby has a lifelong daily practice of painting, drawing, and making. In the last ten years he has extended his practice to digital art and a durational piece is on display in ‘Associative Drifts’ at the 9. Lower Mall site.  What we can show here is small part of huge body of visual artwork including drawings, paintings, objects, and masks. The film ‘Associative Drifts’ (by the filmmaker Tom Chick) gives us glimpses into the world of theatre and innovation at the end of the 1950s and early 1960s; Maude-Roxby’s involvements and collaborations with leading figures in the arts and  emerging British Pop Art and Performance Art scene are discussed.

Since the 1950’s Roddy has been actively positioned between both theatre and art: there often isn’t a distinction between modalities as he freely works between theatre, poetry, improvisation, and play. His visual art is informed by his attention to surfaces and a playful improvisatory process where each mark suggests another - until another day, or another work begins. Much of his work is associative, and appropriates found objects, discarded low grade materials found on the street or acquired from broken or damaged everyday materials.  Works from earlier decades are often reworked and represented.

Roddy’s early interest in painting and drawing led him to first publish two children’s books*

before going to Australia aged 17, to study under the artist George Bell, who advised him not to have a formal art school education as he was already practicing in a strong individual style.  After National Service Maude-Roxby attended Heatherlys School of Art where he met fellow artist the Cypriot, Christoforos Savva. There followed a joint exhibition in Nicosia in 1954. He joined the painting school at the Royal College of Art in 1955 where he was a contemporary of Peter Blake, Pauline Boty, David Hockney, Anne Martin, Frank Bowling, William Green, and Dick Smith, among others. In 1958 whilst continuing at the RCA Roddy Maude-Roxby took on the role of editor of the influential ARK Magazine. 

Roddy was president of the Royal College of Art theatre group leading to a melting pot of ideas and mutual interest between the Royal College of Art and Royal Court Directors Bill Gaskill, Keith Johnstone, and Anne Jellicoe who all came to see the RCA shows. 

This bridging of interests between live and visual arts has remained central to Roddy Maude-Roxby’s practice and is the material of 'Associative Drifts’.

November 2022 an ‘in process’ live exhibition preview celebrating the works of actor and artist Roddy Maude-Roxby, took place on the first and upper floor of 9, Lower Mall, Hammersmith. this was a fitting location. A house steeped in theatrical and artistic history, it is the former home of George Devine (1910–1966), the Artistic Director of the Royal Court Theatre (1956–1965), and of the playwrights Peter Gill and Donald Howarth, amongst other notable theatre associates.  This part of the show is open again from 2nd - 8th July 12-6pm alongside the painting show at POSK.

‘As a domestic living space, the rooms populated with objects, masks, and theatre photographs of former occupants, evoke a sense of lives lived within theatre and the arts. Alice Mallorie’s curation of the exhibition Roddy Maude-Roxby in Residence included a film and display of drawing books. 

On the first floor the film Associative Drifts (2022) captures Roddy in conversation with artist Marcia Farquhar, reflecting on certain moments in his trajectory within theatre and the visual arts. The film is made by Tom Chick in collaboration with Roddy’s daughter Alice Maude-Roxby.’

*Bulgy in Wombolia Published by H. F. & G. Witherby Ltd., London, 1945 and 1946 More Bulgy Adventures Published by H. F. & G. Witherby Ltd., London,1946

Alice Mallorie Curator for ‘Associative Drifts’ Exhibitions