What a find this was. We’d never ventured into Middlesbrough before so didn’t know such a striking regional gallery exhibited in the town. The work of Saud Baloch appealed instantly, as simple mark making is always my thing. Endless circles in this piece draw you deeply in and you aren’t sure whether this is a landscape or some other natural form. The hand of the artist at meticulous play is so important to visualise and reminds me that I need to make this prominent in my own work and not let technical processes cloud my own hand.
I’d never seen video projected onto floor-based boxes before but Otobong Nkanga used this very well. It really gave a sense that we were looking at the land under our feet, the earth on which we habitually tread was being examined in a new way. A really nice permanent collection and diverse temporary exhibits, certainly one to return to.
