Alex Frost ‘Compassion Fatigue'

About

Following on from the exhibitions BBQ at ArtSway, Hampshire and Adults at Milton Keynes Gallery, Compassion Fatigue combines and develops aspects of these two bodies of work. Central to both BBQ and Adults was the exploration of adult sophistication through sculptures and drawings that played on tasteful, high minded or mature aesthetics. Compassion Fatigue is an entirely new collection of artworks. This time, in addition to the kitchen cupboard, the medicine cabinet has been raided: skin-deep remedies such as emollients, lotions, rice milk and cholesterol lowering cereals illustrate the fatigue of the title. Oven-baked polymer clay sculptures, smashed tile mosaics and brass rubbings all further emphasise the home-spun nature of this work. Misshapen off-the-shelf medicines and health food shop items point to the high street rather than the cultish or hip. The symbolism is one of borrowed shoppers hieroglyphs: love hearts, child safety caps, bar codes, the all seeing eye and dream clouds. Born in London in 1973, Alex Frost studied fine art at Staffordshire University (BA 1995) and Glasgow School of Art (MFA 1998). Recent solo exhibitions include ‘BBQ' at Artsway, Hampshire; ‘Adults' at Milton Keynes Gallery and ‘Format Wars', Tramway, Glasgow. Recent group shows include Studio Voltaire Members Show, curated by Linder and Michael Bracewell and ‘Friends and Family' at Anton Kern Gallery, New York. Frost lives and works in Glasgow and will exhibit at the Frieze Art Fair, London with Sorcha Dallas from 16-19th October 2008. Launched at the opening night and available thereafter will be a new publication on Frost's work entitled ‘Supplements', published by Sorcha Dallas, Milton Keynes Gallery and Artsway, supported by The Henry Moore Foundation and the Scottish Arts Council with a commissioned text by Will Bradley Gallery Hours, Tuesday-Saturday 11am-5pm and by appointment