Roy Arden
The Mole King
Monte Clark is pleased to present an online viewing room for Roy Arden’s body of work, The Mole King

Roy Arden’s The Mole King speaks to the agency of the natural world, their confrontation and co-mingling with human-made forces. Arden’s work includes experimental cyanotypes and hanging assemblages constructed with plant roots, wire, and found objects. All of the works hover between depiction and allegory.
Arden’s cyanotype prints focus on plant roots and small objects seen as if underground by an archeologist’s or metal detectorist’s mind’s eye. Roots collected along West Coast beaches leave their silhouettes of lightning-like growth patterns: we see the will of the tendrils pushing downward and then changing direction in reaction to resistance. Soil and micro-organisms have been replaced with man-made litter such as buttons, can tabs, and nails entangled in the root forms recognizing that we have entered in the Anthropocene. A series of these images is printed on the insides of used packaging materials such as medicines or frozen waffles. The shapes of these unfolded boxes were never meant to be considered as they are, but to disappear into the more familiar cuboids that deliver our consumables. The hanging assemblages again depict the underworld — the viewer finds themselves beneath the gnarled roots, stones, and rusty fragments.
Visiting the gallery:
Walk-ins are welcome but the number of guests permitted in the gallery at one time will be limited. To avoid waiting, you may request an appointment during our open hours by emailing info@monteclarkgallery.com.
We observe COVID 19 protocols, and request that you maintain physical distancing and wear a mask while visiting the gallery.
If you are feeling unwell or have traveled internationally in the last 14 days, we ask that you do not visit the gallery at this time.
Roy Arden
At Least The Sky is Blue
2018
Cyanotype on found packaging
17.25 x 9.25 inches
Roy Arden
Chthonic
2018
Bleached and double printed cyanotype on rag paper
20 x 14 inches
Roy Arden
Proximal
2018
Cyanotype on found packaging
9.25 x 17.25 inches
Roy Arden
Palace of The Mole King
2018
Cyanotype on found packaging
24 x 15 inches
Roy Arden
Ghost Hoard
2018
Bleached and double printed cyanotype on rag paper
30 x 22 inches
Roy Arden
Large Hoard 1
2018
Cyanotype on rag paper
30 x 22 inches
Roy Arden
Black Potatoes
2018
Assemblage: roots, wire, and found objects
Roy Arden
Twilight
2018
Assemblage: found objects on found picture frame
20 x 13 inches