Beyond the Pale is an exhibition of contemporary works presenting viewpoints on the notion of the Black Square in the Old Bodleian Library, Oxford. it is running in parallel with a historical display taking place in the Weston Library, Oxford – Foreshadowed – curated by Andrew Spira, exploring precursors to Kasimir Malevich’s Black Square (1915), a painting created to bring art history to an end.

I was invited to submit this print originally created as part of the LetterpressUnited ‘No To War’ call out for inclusion in this exhibition. The work reflects feelings of helplessness in the face of political conflict as the terrible theatre of the Ukraine war plays out in real time. I printed the backs of woodtype to mute their language and create walls of jumbled blocks like the ruins of towns seen in heart-wrenching news bulletins. They are interspersed with bomb-like ornaments falling on the strangled cry of “No To War”