Fellow Traveller

Apophenia is classed as a symptom of schizophrenia, and is characterised by the pathological desire to see connections between elements that do not in fact exist. In its undiagnosed form, is it commonly associated with the activities of conspiracy theorists, individuals for whom a wide range of seemingly disparate occurrences are causally interlinked. The adoption of an apophenic attitude is a valid method with which to visualise the structural conditions underpinning the production of contemporary artworks.

This book is the first monographic essay on the work of contemporary artist Neil Clements. It analyses his practice in terms of processes of ‘surfacing’ and ‘fabrication,’ and sets it in context as a genealogical project that reconsiders the legacies of 1960s abstract painting and sculpture. It features an extended essay by Dr. Dominic Paterson, inserts by the artist and a discussion between the artist and conservator Dr. Brian Castriota