Intense and expressive, Sarah Muirhead’s exhibition Bonded displays large colourful and smaller intimate portraits of individuals (sometimes in multiple poses) caught in a specific moment. Her dedication to scale and proportion offer a sense of realism without feeling as if you’re experiencing photo-realism.
Her accuracy to detail is outstanding, specifically in her depiction of hair and skin. If you look on the Leyden Gallery website you will find a short video of Sarah who discusses, at one point, how she has become aware of her physical self since a recent illness. Her interest in the body and how it responds is apparent in her art. She places her figures in contorted postures as in Self Restrain where we see a double image of a female bonded by ropes in what could be yoga poses. We experience her body’s response to these unusual stances and with one image looking at us and one with the gaze averted, we wonder why we have found her like this, what preceded our intrusion? The close up nature of all the figures and the eye contact combined with the averted gaze contains an element of voyeurism, yet none of the figures look startled by our presence so we feel as if we are are accepted, almost wanted.
Hands are a key factor in Sarah’s work. Whether stretching the mouth open in Untitled 7, one of a series of biro on paper drawings which are close ups of heads and hands, with the hair excluded by an effect which make it looks as if it’s been ripped from a magazine, or getting into a muddle in a poor attempt at cats cradle in Entanglement where we see stretched out fingers, bulging skin, whitend fingers from the blood loss.
These bold works are handled with delicacy and sensitivity drawing the viewer in. Sarah has created such a sense of physicality she is making the viewer feel part of the picture, making them think not just the work but about themselves. They are, dark, sexual, emotional, evocative, thoughtful, detailed, intimate but most of all individual, not just as pieces but individuals in the paintings and drawings and individual in the sense of how we, the viewer, experience it.
Sarah says her work is cathartic for her and I think this shows in the multiple ways in which it can be experienced. She’s created art from the soul for the soul.
The exhibition closes on July 11th with a special ‘finissage’ party on Friday 10th July. The Leyden Gallery’s ‘finissage’ event is a celebration of the artist and their work. Sarah will be present so there will be an opportunity to discuss matters of art (or whatever you wish) with her. You will also be entertained by Suhee Kim who will give a performance on her astonishing Sound-Writer along with some surprise guests. Friday 10 July at 6.45 – 9.00 pm is the time to revel and make merry at the Leyden Gallery, 9/9a Leyden Street, London E1 7LE. To participate RSVP in order to be added to the guest list for this popular event. Email: info@leydengallery.com
By Helen Shewry
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