Café Gallery

Andy Cairns

Recycling is central to Andy Cairns’ art – rescuing materials that have been abandoned, valuing them and giving them a new sense of purpose.  He believes that waste is one of the worst aspects of capitalist society – wasting the potential of many people as well as our resources.

Working in the field of assemblage he brings together different elements to create interesting juxtapositions and harmonies and is particularly interested in developing the stories that objects want to tell when combined together – be they historical, biographical or imaginary.

Drawn to old, corroded, weathered materials and artefacts, he finds that, when materials and artefacts that have a history embedded in their surfaces come together, there is a tremendous chatter and creative energy as they begin to weave new narratives that take their history and embellish it in imaginative ways.

Cairns tries to capture this chatter in his work, configuring the individual elements into a composition that sets off creative narratives in the mind of the viewer.

VENUE: Café Gallery, Exeter Phoenix

A vibrant and busy exhibition venue showing work by contemporary artists based in the South West region. Artworks are available for sale and any enquiries should be directed to our box office on 01392 667080 or by emailing us here >>