Eric Butcher's 'Trace Elements' Documents Shift to Sustainable Art Practice
Eric Butcher's new monograph 'Trace Elements' (Unicorn Publishing, £29) chronicles his radical shift from formalist abstraction to a sustainable, resource-limited practice. The book features an essay by Jonathan Watkins, former director of Ikon Gallery, an interview with artist David Batchelor, and photographs by Peter Abrahams. Butcher, who worked for twenty years in rural Oxfordshire with a monastic routine, was prompted by the Covid-19 lockdown to reassess his practice. He now uses only existing materials—historic stock, deconstructed old works, and non-art items like packaging—peeling paint skins for display. He plans to stop making art once materials run out. The results were shown in his 2025 exhibition 'Shadow Archive' and are now documented in this book. Paul Carey-Kent, who wrote an essay for Butcher's 2020 monograph 'Time Trial', selected 'Trace Elements' as his Book of the Month for FAD magazine.
Key facts
- Eric Butcher's monograph 'Trace Elements' published by Unicorn Publishing, hardcover, 160 pages, £29.
- Book includes essay by Jonathan Watkins, interview with David Batchelor, photographs by Peter Abrahams.
- Butcher worked for twenty years in rural Oxfordshire, isolated and following a daily routine.
- Covid-19 lockdown prompted Butcher to reassess his practice, finding his former work 'problematic and self-indulgent'.
- Butcher now uses only three finite sources: historic stock of art materials, deconstructed old works, and non-art materials like packaging.
- He peels paint skins from supports and categorizes them for display.
- Butcher plans to stop making art once materials run out.
- Results shown in 2025 exhibition 'Shadow Archive'.
- Paul Carey-Kent wrote essay for Butcher's 2020 monograph 'Time Trial'.
- Butcher describes his vow of self-restriction as having 'reinvigorated my experience in the studio'.
Entities
Artists
- Eric Butcher
- Jonathan Watkins
- David Batchelor
- Peter Abrahams
- Paul Carey-Kent
Institutions
- Ikon Gallery
- Unicorn Publishing
- FAD magazine
Locations
- Oxfordshire
- United Kingdom