Now more than ever the crashing global economy and a desire for a resurrection of truth and transparency in our world may be leading to an epiphany…dare we suggest painterly application of conceptual ideas? Painting has in recent years been subject to a less than valued role, an accepted staus quo, reference Duchamp and ‘that urinal’.
Wisden is a well established, although young (28) British artist based in Brighton, where she lives and works. She is best known for painterly, strong and often dark imagery, with a witty narrative that exploits our sensitivity to fear and love. This exhibition is a culmination of works from a time of great transition in Wisden’s personal life, the later half of 2012 and the first few months of 2013. Earlier paintings included are on loan from collectors. The more recent ‘new’ paintings reflect her personal journey through challenging times.
The overall focus continues to be on left-field, sometimes darker than average narrative painting. Her intention is to create a forum for regarding symbolism and the process of conflict and resolution. Inspiration comes from her obsessive collecting of archived or abandoned records of lives, photographs, old suitcases left at the dump, letters and other personal material. The paintings are instantly halting, eloquent they articulate the current lack of security, need for identity in the ever increasing sea of self-created social media personalities/identities through skilled application of oils on canvas.
Classically trained at Bournemouth Art College and then further educated at Wimbledon, Wisden has an affinity for painterly representation which she uses as a base for her conceptual fiction. Familiar homely paintings are subjected to graffiti in oil crayon the artist bravely applies over her rich, sometimes gothic imagery. Contrary, witty and dark these works are about an undesired reality versus the unattainable fictional void.
The exhibition runs from May 3 – June 6, 2013. It is FREE and open to the public. The gallery is open Mon – Sat 9am-6pm.
GX Gallery
43 Denmark Hill,
Camberwell,
London,
SE5 8RS
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