Imperial Works - new work by the Obscurities

About

Imperial Works 30/10/08 New work by THE OBSCURITIES at The Jago Gallery Imperial: adj. Of, relating to, or suggestive of an empire or a sovereign; Regal; majestic; Outstanding in size or quality; Of or belonging to the British Imperial System of weights and measures. Imperial: n; A pointed beard grown from the lower lip and chin. The Obscurities are an Artist's Collective living and working in North London. Imperial Works brings together the four Artist's most recent individual works as well as projects undertaken as a collective. One such collaborative project is a reinterpretation of the Surrealist game "Exquisite Corpse" (in which each collaborator works on a section of the body to create a completed figure, with all other sections hidden from them until completion). The figures are set on a Gold leaf panel, reminiscent of valued Byzantine Christian Icons. This unique fusion of 20th century and 4th-5th Century styles and practices is enhanced by the Obscurities own contemporary input. As a work that benefits from the amalgamation of different styles, this project allows each artist to play to the strengths of their personal style. George Winks works in oils and mixed media. Much of his work is concerned with the extremes of chaos and order resulting in an interest in the ideas of Quantum physics and Chaos theory. Winks is articulate and intelligent in his exploration of these deep and complex ideas but, refreshingly, an appreciation of his work does not rely upon an understanding of these concepts, it is merely enhanced by it. His work was recently exhibited as part of the Threadneedle Figurative Prize. Miriam Maselkowski's recent output has been mainly textiles based, although her application of the medium is far from conventional. She has developed an original technique of "thread and nail drawing". This involves painstakingly representing figurative subjects, in dark thread wound around set points on a panel. The works resemble complex line drawings, but with the visually intriguing effect of the textile aesthetic giving the work a three dimensional, almost holographic quality. Katherine Prendergast works predominantly in paint, in a more abstract mode, and has recently become interested in the ways in which maps can represent reality. In particular, she is interested in our subjective human responses based on our emotional connections to the places represented. Prendergast works to her own set method but is always led by a faith in gut feeling. Justin Fitzpatrick developed an interest in representing space in paint from his beginnings in sculpture. His more recent work is concerned with the poetry of Sylvia Plath, but has retained a strong sense of physical and emotional space. He creates a host of semi-mythical characters, each focusing on a facet of Plath's work and life, although always set in a hauntingly barren emotional and physical landscape, reminiscent of De Chirico. 30th October — 7th September. Open Daily Midday to Midnight. The Jago Gallery: 77 Redchurch Street, London E2 7DJ www.theobscurities.com - Phone: 078 4559 4549 - info@theobscurities.com