Richard Deacon has generously produced As If Only, 2023, a limited edition artwork to celebrate 30 years of Tate St Ives in summer 2023. Deacon has played an important part in Tate St Ives history. His exhibition, Out of Order, presented in 2005, was specially commissioned for the unique spaces at St Ives, which included the curved sea-facing gallery and the sculpture court.

Deacon’s limited edition for Tate is part of an ongoing exploration of the potential of stone lithography and is one of the works in a continuing lithographic series printed in collaboration with Felix Bauer, Cologne, Germany. For Deacon, the principles of draughtsmanship and an emphasis on hands-on experimentation are key. Like many of Deacon’s works on paper, As If Only, 2023, presents a lyrical and organic form. The printed surface has the appearance of rock texture and the tonal value is in keeping with the appearance of natural properties.