Oil Stains
Involving repetition, pattern, intricate design, labour-intensive processes and often unconventional materials and techniques, Eppley’s unusual drawing material is coloured vinyl tape, most often used for commercial signs, which he applies directly to the walls and floors of galleries. He works on site, installing abstract compositions of great vibrancy and complexity that echo specific architectural features of the gallery space. He is particularly drawn to the idiosyncrasies of overlooked spatial features and often emphasizes corners, stairways, or pre-existing stains, scars, and markings that do not usually receive aesthetic attention. At OBORO, Eppley has found particular interest in oil stains on the floor of the large gallery, remnants of a time when 4001 Berri was a car showroom. Applying the tape in bands of bright colour, Eppley references the tradition of wall drawings, hard-edge, geometric, abstract paintings, and the color and vibrancy of pop art. Eppley’s installations move people through space as they twist, turn, and scatter in different directions.
