Hannah Campion: Shift

About

'Shift' is a solo exhibition at Vane by our first artist in residence, Hannah Campion. Campion began her residency in January, and has recently been developing work for the exhibition within the gallery space itself. Drawing on her interest in architectural details and natural forms and surfaces, Campion uses subtle colours, marks and different materials to direct the viewer's eye and body. 'Shift' is an immersive installation that creates both real and imaginary environments.

Campion's work seeks to subtly occupy, alter and activate spaces, imbuing them with an emotional charge. Walls, floor, ceiling, furniture and the air itself are filled with an electrical tension. Paintings and objects are shredded, crushed, nailed, taped, pinned, torn, collaged, and re-assembled into entirely new works creating ongoing dialogues with each other.

Campion reverses the usual hierarchy of painting: her work escapes from the traditional canvas surface and spreads into the surrounding space, overlaid and often hidden by elements such as brightly coloured paper and cotton thread. The reflected colours and shadows projected onto walls or floors become as important as the objects themselves. Blurring the lines between painting, sculpture and installation, Campion's elusive and ephemeral work draws the audience into magical new spaces.

Hannah Campion was born in Middlesbrough in 1980 and currently lives in Newcastle upon Tyne. She studied at Loughborough University, 2000-03. Recent exhibitions include 'Omnia Mea Mecum Porto: Works on Paper', Kotti-Shop, Berlin (2012),'Interspace', Sandford Goudie Gallery, Customs House, South Shields (2009), 'Hannah Campion', Gallery TAKSU, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (2008), and 'The Really Supermarket', mima, Middlesbrough (2007). In 2009, Campion curated the exhibition 'helicopter' in partnership with Vane at St Ann's Quay, Newcastle upon Tyne. She will be joining the MA Fine Art course at Chelsea College of Art, London, later this year.