Behind the Scenes at the Exhibition

Exhibition at the Art Pavillion in Mile End: Thursday 18th – Sunday 21st June

The group show will include three new paintings, here are some details.

Private view: Thursday 18th June, 6 – 9 pm

Info:

Open from 11am – 6pm.
Thursday 18th – Sunday 21st June

The Art Pavillion,
Mile End Park,
Clinton Road,
London, E3 4QY

Nearest tube station Mile End

A year ago I wrote about my trip to see the Caravaggio exhibition in Rome. It left a powerful impression on me and has continued to guide my work, which continues my interest in painting fabric but heading in a slightly new direction. Key works of interest then were: The Seven Acts of Mercy by Caravaggio, The Inspiration of St Matthew by Caravaggio and The Ecstasy of St Theresa by Bernini.

My imagination has been sparked by the flamboyant, twists and turns found in the painting and architecture of the Baroque.

I discovered the philosophical work ‘The Fold: Leibniz and the Baroque’ by Gilles Deleuze (1988) which presents folds as a theory of everything. Another key influence has been the philosophy of Hélène Cixous in ‘The Laugh of the Medusa’ (1975). Her subversive approach to creativity uses the female body as a means to challenge traditional art structures. These concepts emboldened me to make drapery, and my own body, the subject matter, projected into the curves of Baroque architectural spaces.

My recent paintings use architectural plans and photographs of Roman Baroque churches: San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane, designed by Carlo Borromini, in Rome.

… and an unrealised proposal by Andrea Pozzo for a dome for the Church of St. Ignatius of Loyola.

For ‘Taking Flight’ I’ve been looking at these works, before taking self portraits as reference material: Baroque painter, Pietro da Cortona, the ceilings of late Baroque/ Rococo painter, Gianbatista Tiepolo and High Renaissance painter Correggio’s Assumption of the Virgin in the dome of Parma Cathedral, who was based near me in the Emilia Romagna.

Have a great week and I hope to see you at the exhibition. If you can’t make the private view I’ll be there late afternoon on Sunday.