16:9 billboard by Catherine Parsonage

About

This new work for the 16:9 billboard draws together Theodore Gericault’s painting Raft of the Medusa (1819) and Martha Reeves and the Vandella’s track (Love Is Like A) Heatwave (1963). Your love is like a heatwave, comes from a series of work made in Brian Fooks’ (1954-22) house earlier this year; Brian’s house contains a collection of photographs, memories, and memorabilia from a lifetime’s fascination with soul music. Your love is like a heat wave is part of a group of paintings (a break-up album of sorts) which explores the expression of intense feeling in pop culture and painting: its power and potential for cliché.

Made with the support, skills, and kindness of Owen Bryant.

Catherine Parsonage (b. 1989 Birkenhead, UK) is an artist and educator, graduating from the Royal College of Art in 2013. Catherine was the Freelands Painting Fellow at Bath Spa University 2021, the studio program fellow at Castro Projects, Rome 2018-9 and the 2016-7 Sainsbury Scholar at the British School at Rome. Selected exhibitions include Speed Date, Oceans Apart Gallery, (2023) Triangle, Freelands Foundation, London, (2022), Anecdotes & Attitude, Michael Pennie Gallery, Bath, (2021) Notes in Green, Clima, Milan, (2019) and Convivium, Bosse and Baum, London. (2017-8).