Collagist Max Davies back in Bengaluru after 14-year hiatus

If you are a collagist, it is usually supposed that any material could be grist to your mill. And much like any work of creative expression, what sets it apart lies in the eyes of the beholder. Or, in other words, its appeal and relatability.

With Third Time ‘Round, Belgaum-based collagist Max Davies is exhibiting his works after a hiatus of 14 years. The show has been curated by Sunil Murthy, a former journalist and long-time acquaintance of Max, who says the artist draws inspiration from various sources.

“Max is constantly rifling through stacks of old magazines and comic books, scouring markets and bookshops, relying on his intuition to pick out images that “speak” to him. Partial to sepia-tainted nature and texture of pages in old books, he sometimes uses thread, stamps and bits of film, but it is usually paper and glossy pages on cardboard and thick paper.“

According to Sunil, what sets Max’s work apart from most collages is the “painterly quality” it exudes and he says this is achieved by his sense of proportion. “While many look at collaging as a slapdash affair, Max’s attention to the size, colours, material and background, result in images that appear as a cohesive whole.”

A collage by Max Davies
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

“He’s got a light touch and he knows when to stop. Sometimes it is just one image, but he possesses the sensibility to position it in the right place.”

A fan of film noir and the musical stylings of The Rolling Stones and their contemporaries, Max is well read and his works reflect, “visual puns as well as allusions to folk stories and songs”.

Sunil says though the artist is not religious, his inclusion of Christian imagery is purely aesthetic. “Russian icons have a jewel-like quality and colour, and as mentioned earlier, Max goes by his gut feeling. As a result, his works grab your attention with their funny, tongue-in-cheek attributes.”

Forever young

Sunil recalls Suze Rotolo’s appearance in Martin Scorsese‘s documentary film, No Direction Home: Bob Dylan, and being moved by her composure, frailty and charm. Though they were together a short while, Suze, an artist in her own right, has been recognised as the driving force during Dylan’s formative years.

A collage by Max Davies
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

On a whim, Sunil wrote to her gallery after checking out some of her art online, and in his email, he sent her images of Max’s work. “I never expected her to reply, but she did. It was a rather sweet note thanking me for appreciating her work and it included her observations on Max’s style.“

Touched by her reply, Sunil says he was quite moved by her passing the following year. Both he and Max felt the next show would be in her memory. Now, almost 14 years later, that tenuous connection is the one of the reasons many of the pieces showcased in Third Time ‘Round are themed around many of Dylan’s artworks.

Third Time ‘Round by Max Davies will be on display at DYU Art Cafe till November 2, and will move to the Abstract Art Gallery from November 5.