Between Bodies

About

Painting   has  often   depicted   the   human figure  as  an  image  or  surface,  it's exterior displayed  in  aesthetic form. Similarly  today, much   is   seen   to   be   presented   on   the outside.  We  wear  our  lives like  clothing,  a patchwork  of  events,  photos  and  opinions displayed  and  performed  online.  But  what really  lies  behind  or  beyond  those  chosen moments is much  more  complex. Painting,
with   its   inherently   selective   process   of exposure  and erasure,  has the  potential  to reveal the less perfect but far more intimate reality. In Between Bodies the image of the
body  is distorted, doubled, fragmented  and expanded  through paint   to   probe   what comes  from   within  -  to  go  beyond  -  the body.
In order to make sense of the self and its’ place within its’ environment, this exhibition explores the dichotomy  between  the  image  and  the  bodily  experience.  The  artists  exhibited  depict  disparate worlds  in  paint  to  create  spaces  that  are  sparse  or  intricately decorative,  either  way  ambiguous settings  for  figures  to  inhabit.  Be  they  placed  within  familiar domestic  interiors,  or  moving  fluidly through the sublime outdoors, the body  is always framed within the canvas. Just as the experience of  the  self  is  morphed  from  both outer  surroundings  and  inner  consciousness,  the  works shown reflect  this by  fusing painterly  tropes with  depicted  imaginings and  figures that address their  own and each other’s existence. Between  Bodies presents  works  that  build  tension  and  relationships  between  depicted  figures while  also  setting  up  potential  dialogues  between  the  paintings.  The  group  of  artists  reveal  the inner workings of human experience while testing the boundaries of figuration within contemporary painting. The  body  is explored  as  as an image and  vehicle  for  thought;  through  visceral  skin  and flesh; challenging pose and gaze; with poetics and feeling.

Emma Cousin, Lewis Hammond, Mona Osman, Neena Percy, Ellie Pratt, Babette Semmer, Lucy Stein,Emma Talbot, Rose Williams, Tom Worsfold

Curated by Neena Percy and Ellie Pratt.​

3rd - 25th November (2018)

12pm - 6pm Daily

Text in advance of visiting on 07540382877. 

Access is through a locked door.
 

Between Bodies is part of Painting Programme. 

Painting programme is a seven-month programme of painting exhibitions curated by different painters, each of whom are invite by Assembly House studio holders. The exhibitions which will explore the role, possibilities and responsibility of collective artistic activity today as well as expose the curators’ unique approach to making, and their appreciation of dynamics within art.

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The programme is structured by each studio holder who extends an invitation to another painter, each of whom has been asked to curate a painting-focused exhibition. Within this framework the curating artist can navigate their own interests for each exhibition. The exhibitions will bring together a range of artists within the philosophy that they are all painters together, pitching in and carving out ideas across a broad spectrum of creative activity.

Each exhibition will expose the curators’ unique approach to making, and their appreciation of dynamics within art. It will also give them chance to develop meaningful relationships and dialogues between artists. The programme is broadly removing the role of the gallerist as curator with the value of handing direction to artists.

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Programme Co-ordinators

Suzy Babington | Rufus Newell | Jack Towndrow | Rosie Vohra

Painting Programme is co-ordinated by Assembly House studio holders.