In this new body of work David Cass explores the abstract notion of a rising horizon, using beautifully painted seascapes as vehicles to explore themes of global warming and sea rise. Paintings appear on diverse surfaces such as metal signs, antique tins, a copper boiler and re-formed plastic-waste panels (commissioned by the artist, containing thousands of compressed items of plastic food and drink waste packaging). The catalogue features contributions by Professor David Reay of Edinburgh University and the oceanographer John Englander.

David Cass was joined by Professor Dave Reay from The University of Edinburgh on Saturday 9th February 2019, to discuss the environmental issues portrayed through the seascapes. Click here to view the highlights of their discussion.

David Cass

Born: 1988

David Cass was born in Edinburgh and brought up in the Scottish Borders. He graduated with First Class Honours from Edinburgh College of Art in 2010, receiving the Royal Scottish Academy’s John Kinross Scholarship to Florence. The RSA now holds six of his works in their permanent collection and in 2018 the institution named work by Cass as the most promising created by a practicing artist in Scotland under 35.

Cass is difficult to pigeon-hole as he works across such a wide variety of media: principally he creates three-dimensional paintings using exclusively found objects sourced at flea-markets around Europe – though his practice also involves digital media and sculpture.

Cass has produced six solo exhibitions for The Gallery since 2011. At the age of 22, he constructed his inaugural show Unearthed, which was followed by the more conceptual Years of Dust & Dry in 2013. In 2015 Cass created an exhibition describing Florence’s Great Flood of 1966 (Tonight Rain, Tomorrow Mud) and in 2017 we presented the Venice-themed series Pelàda.

With each new project, Cass’ exploration into environmental themes deepens. His fifth exhibition Rising Horizon in February 2019 explored the issue of rising sea levels, and was a direct step on from Pelàda, zooming out from close examinations of Venice and its rising lagoon, to describe the abstract notion of a rising horizon line. He has recently presented work from this ongoing series at Venice Biennale. His latest exhibition Light on Water will be held in September 2024.

Rising Horizon

David Cass

Join our mailing list