The Natural Numeral
November 5, 2013-February 3, 2014
McGill Library
This exhibition draws upon the Permanent Collection of the Burnaby Art Gallery to examine the use of numbers in printmaking. The so-called “Natural Numeral,” the number as used for counting and ordering, has been investigated by various artists through distinct media. The works presented here reference the Gregorian calendar and seafaring charts, draw upon scoring systems and the ordering of objects, precise measurement and cures for insomnia. What can also be noted when viewing these works is the graphic presence of the numeral–in other words, the number as form or shape.