Some initial photos of 3 new paintings I've just finished for the upcoming exhibition Wonderlust which opens this Thursday 10th November at APT Gallery in Deptford.
They are based on sourced images of antique objects from various collections - all with associations of power, prestige, and now obsolete technology.
The presentation is reminiscent of the museum cabinet type space, with the unnatural illumination giving a theatrical focus to the object, and an air of mystery and heightened drama.
There is a direct visual reference here to the language of Dutch still life genre, known for its meticulous representation of spotlit objects in dark spaces, infusing common items with a sort of numinous presence.
It is this quality of light that I want to evoke in these works, picking out the subjects and displaying them for the viewer like a wunderkammer.
I have also been experimenting with new ways of constructing the paintings - trying to recreate better the feel of the era I am referencing. These have all been underpainted in shades of crimson or magenta, with darker tones layered up on top (often in contrasting warm blues - prussian blue or pthalocyanine blue lake), followed by highlights.
I have tried to allow areas of the underpainting to show through, giving the finished works a warm, glowing feel.
The plan is now to expand these into a larger series.
The Wonderlust exhibition opens Thursday 10th November 6-9pm and runs until 27th November, open 12-5pm Thursday-Sunday at APT Gallery, Harold Wharf, 6 Creekside, Deptford, London SE8 4SA.
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