The Snail by Brian Proudfoot

Raphaé Memon’s acclaimed ‘Minutes in Blue’ made way for another bright, colourful exhibition celebrating the wonder and whimsy of storytelling. In this instance, the focus is on ‘slow making’; the process of crafting beautiful and interesting objects from timber, paper, and other sustainable materials we have a tendency to overlook.
‘The Snail’ is, to all intents and purposes, a work in semiotics. At the centre of the installation is the figure of the snail, which suggests slow, considered movement without regard for the pressures of time. To the periphery are signs in a more formal sense, variously shaping the way in which the snail experiences its journey, deliberate references to culture, context, and the client brief. And then there is the colour palette, playful enough to suggest the critically engaged artist should not take life too seriously and instead look to their work as a conduit for self-expression.
Rodić Davidson reads the interesting as a thoughtful rendering of the themes and ideas bound to echo through architecture and interior design practice in the twenty-first century. The tactile and visually striking snail shells are crafted from recycled plastic waste, demonstrating the applicatory potential of sustainable materials in design.

About the Artist

Brian Proudfoot is a Glasgow-based artist and interior designer interested in the tactile and visual engagement of 3D design. As an educator, he has been working with V&A Dundee since its flagship Kengo Kuma-designed premise opened on the waterfront in 2018, and currently lectures at both the Edinburgh College of Art and the Glasgow School of Art on themes such as Product Design, Interior and Architectural Design, and Design Informatics.
Brian is the founder and director of two design studios, each with a distinctive focus. ‘Day-Off’ is a creative outlet for collaborative projects in the 3D design and illustration spaces, founded through a desire to explore the possibilities of communication through simple, economic means. ‘GOODD’, a company co-founded with creative partner Thomas Russell, focuses on commercial interiors, exhibitions, furniture, and products, and seeks to develop complex and celebrated projects through collective physical experience. Together they have worked on projects for Tate Liverpool, the London Architectural Biennale, EE, and Swatch.