'Somewhere Between Perception and Reality’
An exhibition first presented at VUE in 2018, Ireland’s National Contemporary Art Fair (1-4 November, RHA, Dublin)
Olivier Cornet Gallery, opened Sunday 9th of December 2018 until 17 February 2019. For VUE 2018, I used oil and acrylic paint on a domestic dining table place mat, a small mat underneath a persons dining plate, used to protect the table form the heat of the food. A collage of cuttings from former paintings were arranged to form a textured background on which the place mat lies. The poised women are framed within the mat to create a collective group composition of painted out identities, inspired by the famous Astronaut Wives photograph on the cover of Life magazine, September 21, 1959. The group composition is familiar yet allows the viewer to bring their own interpretation of truth and reality to the table. I painted a hooded pillowcase effect on their faces to suggest a neutrality within the group, perhaps under threat, in need of some protection, menacing as this may look but collective in their cause suggest Guantanamo Bay prisoner's, the Pussy Rioters, the Women's Rights' movement and #MeToo campaign. Their reality is considered in this painting and how it is perceived is open to interpretation.
© 2021 Vicky Smith. All rights reserved.
An exhibition first presented at VUE in 2018, Ireland’s National Contemporary Art Fair (1-4 November, RHA, Dublin)
Olivier Cornet Gallery, opened Sunday 9th of December 2018 until 17 February 2019. For VUE 2018, I used oil and acrylic paint on a domestic dining table place mat, a small mat underneath a persons dining plate, used to protect the table form the heat of the food. A collage of cuttings from former paintings were arranged to form a textured background on which the place mat lies. The poised women are framed within the mat to create a collective group composition of painted out identities, inspired by the famous Astronaut Wives photograph on the cover of Life magazine, September 21, 1959. The group composition is familiar yet allows the viewer to bring their own interpretation of truth and reality to the table. I painted a hooded pillowcase effect on their faces to suggest a neutrality within the group, perhaps under threat, in need of some protection, menacing as this may look but collective in their cause suggest Guantanamo Bay prisoner's, the Pussy Rioters, the Women's Rights' movement and #MeToo campaign. Their reality is considered in this painting and how it is perceived is open to interpretation.
© 2021 Vicky Smith. All rights reserved.
