About
A suite of new sculptural works by Richard Stone are dynamically presented as new portrait capes for the Chamber of Pop Culture. The works address conventions of representation whilst their presentation simultaneously recasts the gallery in the territory of the museum or mausoleum.
An elegiac formation of cabinets contain figures adopting traditionally heroic poses that have their features smoothed out, layered or engulfed in amorphous halos of black wax. Originally cast as historical portraits or caricatures, these Victorian objects of classicism or aspiration become plinths or supports for new sculptural forms that speak more to contemporary notions of portraiture, flawed beauty and poetic failure.
Each gaze is caught and cloaked, fluctuating between heightened still forms or in the process of metamorphosis.
A series of accompanying works form a counterbalance of intention, an inversion. Viewers are invited to become participants in a reflective shadow play through a series of reflective surfaces occupying the gallery space. Collectively, these both diffuse and fragment the image of the viewer and simultaneously open the windowless gallery space and close it down.
About the artist:
Stone's works materialise in many forms from objects and installation through to site-specific interventions. Such works ultimately break down conventions of representation, offering new and explorative directions.
Solo exhibitions include: a walk at dusk and dawn, Burgh House, London (2012); idir eathara, Tank Gallery, London (2011) and reenactment of a memorial, Madame Lillie's Gallery, London (2010). Group exhibitions include; A History Revisited, Beers.Lambert Contemporary, London (2012); Wunderkammer, Hoxton Art Gallery (2012); The X and The Y: 8 Artists at City Hall, City Hall, London (2012), The Face of the Shape, La Scatola Gallery, London (cat.) (2011); The Threadneedle Prize, Mall Galleries, London (2011); The London Group Open, The Cello Factor y, London (cat.) (2011); The Title Art Prize, BLANKSPACE Gallery, Manchester (cat.) (2011); Drawing Connections, Siena Art Institute, Italy (cat.) (2011); ArtWorks Open 2011, Barbican Arts Group Trust, (2011); Galerie8 Sculpture Prize, Galerie8, London (2011). An MA Graduate of Central Saint Martins (2000) he was awarded a British Academy, Arts and Humanities Research Board: Full Bursary. He currently lives and works in London.
www.richardstoneprojects.com
