Linear Gallery Exhibition 2018

 MA Fine Art Exhibition 

13th Feb - 27 Feb 2018

Linear Gallery, UCA Farnham

This month saw the release of the Puppets (2018) from their glass cloches, and venture out into the Linear Gallery at UCA Farnham. This was their first outing into the public domain which provided a great opportunity for me to observe and evaluate their presence. I was very interested to see the reaction of the  audience to the artworks as they passed through the gallery space. The display enticed spectators to stop and take a closer look at the figures and I observed on several occasions groups of people chatting animatedly around the works. This was a good start for the curation of these works and I was pleased by the initial responses to the dis-play. 

'Puppets', 2018

I decided to display the puppets in vintage drawers I had salvaged  from an educational establishment I had previously worked at, as these created ready-made frames in which to contain the figures. The drawers also represent an unspecified time from the past, a fragment of memory, which is a recurring theme within the artworks. Proportionally, I believe the figures sit well within the drawer frames, revealing a clear view for inspection but also of sufficient depth to retain and encase the fragile figures. The retaining bars are a practical inclusion for this exhibition but also confine the figures to the drawers, discouraging escape. The central display case was strongly spotlit and this created dramatic shadows to be cast across the figures, adding tension to the tableaux. The signature crows (representing self) add a further layer of narrative.

detail
'Harriet & Mathilda', 2018

detail 'Conversation', 2018

 detail 'Together we Stand', 2018

Group Crit 

It was a privilege to receive detailed feedback from the MA group, their curiosity, observations and suggestions allowed me to gain some distance and perspective on these pieces. It was encouraging that the group was keen to know who the figures were and whether the figures actually wanted to be known. It was suggested there was an aloofness to the characters, their fragility enhanced by the materials employed and there was a ritual in the figures' placement and clothing. It was interesting to hear that there was a sense of rejection emanating from the puppets and it was intriguing to see how quickly the audience started to form their own narratives, considering the puppets as versions of people they knew and stories which are shut away (in proverbial drawers!)

To move forward with this work it was suggested that the subversive element could be heightened if some of the figures were placed out of the drawers and released into the gallery space. Although this could not be done in the space on this occasion, it could be a worthwhile test for another exhibition. It is intended for the puppets to now go on a journey and venture out from the gallery space. I plan to document their outings through photography and possibly animated sequencing.