Event detail
Spirit and Suit
How can artists represent the creation of inner and outer worlds?
An exhibition of new art works by Joo-Hee Chun and Tanya Saffron Weall
We all experience the sense of having an inner and outer self. Self-image may be viewed as partly consisting of inner qualities that can’t be seen by the naked eye, and outer appearances, that are visible. We are two artists interested in exploring the contrasting areas of inner and outer self.
Joo-Hee Chun’s work is about representing the inner, spiritual world. She writes, “...the composition evolves as a continuous process, as a metaphor for layers of personality, and inner emotions, secrets and tensions...” Joo-Hee works between layers of translucent medium, applying calligraphic lines, and free-form text. Lines are used to express her emotions, and are applied in a diverse range of media, “The particles of pigments are gathered and spread with water in a lively action until dry”.
Tanya Saffron Weall is interested in the way that people construct an exterior identity, and borrowed from fictional characters and icons in order to project an external version of themselves. For this exhibition, she has used suits of playing cards as a starting point. “My paintings are my way of undermining existing archetypes and making this work relevant to a modern audience”. Following a period of research, Tanya creates large scale drawings and works from life to create representational paintings.
Joo-Hee Chun is a Korean artist who came to the UK in 2006 to complete her MA in Fine Art Theory and Practice at Winchester School of Art. This is her first new show since graduating in 2007. She has previously worked as an art instructor in Korea, and now works as a freelance artist and art tutor. She lives in London.
Tanya Saffron Weall also completed her MA in Fine Art Theory and Practice at Winchester School of Art in 2007. She now teaches art and works part time as a freelance artist at Southampton City Art Gallery. She lives in Hampshire.
Both artists worked collaboratively on the ‘Childhood Memories’ exhibition with other members of the ‘Voyage’ art group in 2007. This was shown at the Slaturhusinu Gallery in Egilsstadum, Iceland, and was funded by the Cultural Council of East Iceland.
