'Look but don’t touch', Callum Eaton at Carl Kostyal Gallery

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Following his pursuit of painterly perfection in the realm of photorealism during his time at Goldsmiths, Callum Eaton witnessed an amusing incident during an early open studio session. An intoxicated attendee attempted, in vain, to interact with a two-dimensional depiction of a conventional cash machine, leaving Eaton with a sense of satisfaction. This scenario drew parallels with the legendary tale of illusionary artworks, Zeuxis and Parrhasius' contest of artistic deception. Inspired by Parrhasius, Eaton's current collection challenges reality; he explores the transformation of everyday objects into self-referential, two-dimensional readymades that preserve form while losing their function.

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Having exhibited 'Hole in the Wall' at Paris' Long Story Short gallery earlier this year, featuring flat and functionless ATM machines, Eaton's London debut broadens the scope. In this exhibition, visitors can experience his works that look like overlooked street furniture, coke vending machines, and urban architecture from his hometown, meticulously documenting everyday surroundings and encapsulating his world in two dimensions. Callum Eaton's exhibition provokes contemplation about the interplay between perception, reality, and the two dimensional representation of the world that’s depicted on the canvas. 

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