Whilst a public, end of degree show exhibition is off the cards, I decided to clear out my living room and create an ‘At Home Gallery’ exhibition to showcase my Equilibrium (After Dana Schutz) series. I aimed to re-create how I would have envisioned my exhibition to go as accurately as possible, even popping the bubbly and playing art gallery music in the background. However, as you would have guessed, this hasn’t been entirely possible. From not being able to hang my canvases, paint the walls a desired colour or allow public viewings, I had to make the most of a one man showcase to an audience of two.
I have also presented this short video clip and photographs to social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram, as well as uploading these to my website to hopefully gain an online presence – so those viewing my work from home could gain as much of the same experience of visiting an in-person gallery as possible.
Artworks are part of the Equilibrium (After Dana Schutz) series:
Bolehall Fish Bar (2020), oil on canvas 5ft6 x 5ft6
Heavenly Desserts Huddersfield (2020), oil on canvas 5ft6 x 5ft6
Considering my work consists of two large scale canvases (5ft6 x 5tf6), it is important for them, or more so the individuals painted on the canvas, to be the central focus point. Keeping an exhibition space clean and minimal would allow for this. I do not want to overwhelm an audience but rather let my paintings speak for themselves; after all it is the power of the painting that should evoke feeling. However, to continue and extend an approach of using colour as a concept to address culture and race appropriately, I would have painted coloured sections behind my canvases. These flat blocks of skin toned colour would emphasise a connection between people, place and setting. The colours would be selected from parts of the canvas, so they are aesthetically pleasing. For Bolehall Fish and Chips(2020), I would have chosen a pale toned pink as I feel this is most complimentary and a beige brown tone for Heavenly Desserts Huddersfield(2020).
As a principal, my paintings should inform a feeling of connection and relatability to an audience – I wish for them to be able to associate with the settings and people (as representatives) presented to those in their own lifestyles. Whilst old master paintings tend to be hung a little higher (Christie’s 2019), taking into account ceiling height, I would like my work to be hung at eye-level. It is this eye contact between viewer and portrait that can enhance such connection. Then it is suitable to review how my paintings are hung in accordance to each other. In my ‘At Home Gallery’, I situated the canvases on opposite walls (mainly as they were the only available walls), yet this is how I would have positioned them anyhow. Linking to the title of my series Equilibrium (after Dana Schutz), a connotation of equality and balance, to have the paintings hung directly opposite each other with all four corners at the same level and height, I have reinforced a message of unity and social/cultural cohesion between each painting and the individuals in them.
Furthermore, I understand that if an end of degree show had taken place, then it would have been situated in Huddersfield. Yet as an individual proposition, I would have also aimed to curate an exhibition of Equilibrium (after Dana Schutz), in my hometown of Tamworth. As both pieces have a direct connection to myself and the locations in which I have spent my time have been where I have formed a relationship with the individuals in the paintings, I feel it would only be appropriate to display both works in both places. This stems to identity the contextual understanding I have with who and what I have represented (something which generates authority in representing those from a different culture). Bolehall Fish and Chips, my local takeaway in Tamworth, is well-known not just for its food but for Bernie and Anne – those I have painted. Allowing for Tamworth locals to also view the painting will mean Bernie and Anne will receive notoriety, an example of portraiture giving power to its subjects. This is the same for Heavenly Desserts Huddersfield if a partnering exhibition in Huddersfield would have taken place. In all, this is another way in which I have found artists [myself] to be able to represent their [my] subjects with responsibility and accountability to avoid criticism when representing those from different cultures.
Comentários