David Shrigley, Bbb, 2005

Bbb (2005) – David Shrigley Woodcut

About the Work

Bbb (2005) is a striking David Shrigley woodcut that captures the raw, graphic immediacy of the artist's early graphic output. Rendered in stark black ink against a warm cream background, the composition prioritises minimalist execution and bold, hand-carved letterforms. The stark contrast highlights the physical texture of the relief printing process, separating this early edition from his later, highly saturated screenprint releases.

By focusing on the stuttered repetition of a single letter, the composition evokes a sense of linguistic breakdown and existential absurdity. The deliberate irregularities of the hand-carved woodblock mimic the faltering nature of human communication, transforming a simple typographic mark into a humorous monument to speechlessness.

David Shrigley

Nominated for the Turner Prize in 2013, the celebrated British artist has carved out a unique position in contemporary art through his deadpan humour and satirical drawings. From his celebrated Fourth Plinth commission in Trafalgar Square to major solo exhibitions at Hayward Gallery, his work is held in prestigious public collections worldwide, including Tate and the British Council.

Translating his characteristically spontaneous line work into graphic editions allows the artist to democratise his practice while retaining its immediate, personal quality. Each David Shrigley print acts as a subversive mirror to modern life, utilising deceptive simplicity to critique societal anxieties.

Screenprint Process

Utilising the tactile medium of woodcut printing, this composition leverages the organic texture of the wood grain to ground the stark black ink. Unlike the flat, uniform ink layers achieved in a standard screenprint, this relief method leaves subtle variations in ink density across the heavyweight Somerset paper. Each impression captures a unique distribution of pigment, creating a rich surface quality that highlights the physical act of carving.

This physical approach to printmaking preserves the intentional wobbles and rough edges of the original drawing, showcasing the artist's rejection of clinical perfection. Published by Paragon Press, this David Shrigley limited edition print exemplifies how traditional woodblock techniques can translate spontaneous graphic mark-making into a powerful, permanent form.

Collectability

Given the exceptionally small run of this release, collector interest remains particularly high among those tracking the artist's formative printmaking years. The minimal palette and text-based focus represent highly recognisable imagery that aligns with the core aesthetic of his wider oeuvre.

Representing a rare woodcut from his highly regarded institutional period, the piece remains a particularly desirable example of his early graphic experiments. With an edition size of just 20, Bbb represents an increasingly scarce opportunity to acquire a pivotal early work that predates his ubiquitous colour screenprints.