This exhibition at the Lloyd Gill Gallery is titled 'Add balance to the equation'. This exhibition will delve into the dichotomies between Art concepts of order - randomness, nature - manmade, illogical - logical, balance – precariousness, real – imaginary and actual - virtual. The exhibition will show the extremeness of one amplifying and accentuating idea to its opposing partner. These collisions of opposites are representing the complexities of the modern world. Many of the Artists on show are interested in ontological philosophies, epitomised by films such as; ‘the Matrix’, ‘how do you define what is real?’, in particular the Danish Artist Carina Traberg whose sculptural work parodies this aesthetic. There will be many different works on show including; painting, video and sculpture. The Lloyd Gill Gallery is very pleased to be showing the participating Artists.
Carina Traberg: Born: 1978 in Skanderborg, Denmark. Lives and work in London, UK. Carina studied at The Funen Academy of Fine Art during 1999-2004 and at Chelsea College of Art and Design Postgraduate diploma during 2006. At the moment Carina is working with paper – photo and card collages describing a different kind of reality. One which may seem real but isn't, one that is on the edge between reality and imagination. Carina works with abstracting and extending the two-dimensional, inspired by Minimalism and also Ottoman Miniature paintings in that the image is created without an illusion of a third dimension.
Carina Traberg: The Door In The Floor, Cardboard and paper on canvas, 30x30 cm, 2008.
Jorunn Maeland: Born in Norway, lives and works in Norway. Jorunn has studied at Rogaland Art School (KIR) – for a Foundation in Art (Norway) during 2002 – 2004. Jorunn continued her studies at Goldsmiths College (University of London) for a BA in Fine Art. (UK) during 2004 – 2007 and is recently studying at the University of Stavanger (UiS) for a PPE, Art and Craft. (Norway) during 2008. Jorunn is genuinely interested in the artist as anthropologist. Jorunn likes to search in her own culture for subjects, to look in the everyday for all the things that are lost, soon to be, or new and undiscovered. Jorunn finds it vital to physically do art objects out of her research; to directly engage with the subjects makes her active in her own investigation.
Jorunn Maeland: Chaos-Order, Acrylic on paper stretched on canvas, 70cm x 70cm, 2007.
Jayne Smith: Jayne has come from a background of arts and crafts, having had experience in craft design, special paint effects and interior design. She studied fine art with KIAD, at both Maidstone and Canterbury colleges, before moving to Cornwall in 2005 where she is continues her studies at Falmouth.
Jayne’s inspiration comes from an exploration of spaces situated on the outer edge of our environment. Empty, neglected and sometimes derelict, these sites exude feelings of melancholia; this is something that her work aims to tap into, following in the tradition of the Romantics.
Jayne Smith: In Transience, Acrylic on canvas, 35cm x 45cm, 2008.
Iain Andrews: Lives and works in Manchester. Iain has studied at the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth, for an BA(Hons) Fine Art during 1993-1996, University College of Wales, Aberystwyth for an MA Painting during 1996-1997 and Sheffield University, PG Dip. Art Psychotherapy during 1998–2000. Iain’s paintings begin as a dialogue with an image from art history – a painting by an Old Master that may then be rearranged or used as a starting point from which to playfully but reverently deviate. My recent work is concerned with the struggle to capture the relationship between the spiritual and the sensual, apparent opposites that are expressed in my work through the conflict of high narrative themes and sensuous painterly marks. The sheer enjoyment of making these marks is not intended to be a Dionysian pursuit that drowns out the appearance of the real through a curtain of subjective, expressionistic gestures, but rather an attempt to transform and redeem the form through the act of making.
Iain Andrews: Jacob's Ladder, Acrylic on canvas, 90cm x 60cm, 2007.
Heloise Godfrey: Lives and works in Wales. Heloise studied at the University of Wales Institute Cardiff (UWIC), for an Art and Design Foundation Studies and gained a Distinction grade during 2003 – 2004. Heloise then continued her studies at the University of Leeds, English Literature and Language BA Hons and gained a First class degree during 1997 – 2000. Heloise is fascinated by narrative and motif – with the stories individuals and cultures tell themselves. I am especially interested in how the body can be the forum through which we tell and discuss our stories. My most recent works are drawings exploring the concept of ‘metamorphosis’, of how bodily changes affect our sense of who we are.
Cathy Bird: Lives and works in Kent, England. Cathy completed a Higher National Diploma at Hammersmith (now Chelsea Collage of Arts) and recently completed a Masters in Fine Art at Canterbury University in 2007. After graduating, Cathy went back to my home in Africa and painted for several years. Then in the Gambia, ran a Batik Co-operative. After Cathy’s return to the UK, Cathy spent most of her time teaching Art and decide to take up painting seriously again in 2002. Since Cathy completed her MA, Cathy’s work has moved towards installation and drawing dealing with my own philosophical concerns. I am exploring significance within the mind and the symbolism we ascribe to past/present, absence/presence. The act of drawing is an extension of this.
Cathy Bird: She, Graphite on paper, (framed)
Sandra Boreham: Lives and works in Falmouth, Cornwall. Sandra completed her Foundation in Art and Design, At Falmouth School of Arts and Design during 1990-1991. Sandra continued her studies and completed a BA in Fine Art (sculpture) at Falmouth School of Arts and Design during 1991-1994. The inspiration for Sandra’s work Comes from nature. Sandra’s work is celebratory and is underpinned by an exploration of spiritual growth. Sandra Tries to be with, and work with the energy of the Tai chi dance: Masculine / feminine / soft / hard, etc. Sandra’s Work is influenced by alchemy and reflects the vibrancy of life and the natural order of decay and death.
Lloyd Gill: Lives and works in Weston – Super – Mare, Somerset. Lloyd completed a BTEC National Diploma in Foundation Art and Design at Hans Price Gallery, Weston Collage in 1999, where Lloyd won the Governor’s prize For outstanding achievement in the creative Arts 1999. Lloyd continued his studies at University of Wales Institute Cardiff (UWIC) during 1999 – 2002 for a BA in Fine Art. Lloyd received the Harry Walker RWA Memorial Young Artist Prize 2002 at Victoria Art Gallery, Bath, while participating in their annual group exhibition. He later received a publication with ‘Funds Europe’, a finance magazine based in Europe, through winning an online exhibition prize with London Art.com. Lloyd has exhibited throughout the UK, and has his work in private collections in the UK, Ireland, Spain and USA. According to Lloyd this body of work started in 2006 where Lloyd introduced figuration within his abstracted arrangements of architecture. The figures are in a dreamlike state of mind, where the subconscious thought provokes irrational, illogical reasoning. The paintings are renditions of parallel worlds fusing together through every day choices you and I make every minute. This work provides an intermissive level between the dichotomy of actual - virtual and is attempting to gain further understandings of ontological reasoning.
Lloyd Gill: Subconscious Singularity I (detail) , Acrylic and collage on canvas, 150cm x 72cm, 2006, photo credit: Chris King
