Richard McVetis

This series extends Richard McVetis’ ongoing exploration of process, specifically, how deliberate repetition and mark-making embody both the passage of time and the experience of spatial relationships, both physical (within the artwork) and conceptual (as interpreted by the viewer). Here, making becomes a form of thinking; patterns are not predefined, but are generated through sustained engagement with materials and process.

Through stitch, Richard investigates repetition and subtle variation, balancing sameness and difference. The work maps space and is composed of time, fostering dialogue between structure, movement, and materiality. Each stitch marks an action, embedding duration, labour, and attention into the work.

Shoben tape collages generate patterns for larger constructions that are carefully cut, pieced, and stitched together. On this surface, the artist re-embroiders the same pattern by hand, but with a slight shift—meaning the stitched pattern is intentionally misaligned from the original.

This subtle displacement introduces controlled irregularity, creating a gentle instability where precise order gives way to purposeful inaccuracy. The newly stitched layer mimics surfaces worn down by time and use, visually referencing effects such as weathering and erosion.

The work is grounded in an offset grid, meaning a non-uniform arrangement, that acts as both structure and abstraction. Drawing on the logic of weave—a system of interlacing threads—the grid serves as a framework through which order is established and disrupted. The compositions maintain a clear underlying system or set of rules that guides the process. Each stage of making creates subtle changes, mirroring how patterns and forms naturally shift over time.

As the textile accumulates stitches, it records the work and the artist’s history. The finished surfaces resemble maps of geological time: layered, stratified, and shaped by accumulation.

At the heart of Richard’s practice is a commitment to slowness, both conceptually and practically. He embraces a deliberate, thoughtful approach to making, resisting immediacy in favour of deep engagement with materials and process. Each stitch becomes a record of labour, thought, and care.