i_see_this

About

Empty shops, light and observation Tim Goffe sees the world differently. His background as a photographer has tuned his eye to spot visual interest where it may have been overlooked. His paintings convey an appreciation of light and its transformational qualities. He is a natural observer as the title of the show suggests i_see_this he wants us to see the world through his eyes. Empty shops: A sign of the times maybe. The economy is a volatile and uncertain place and now it has its show piece. Roll up roll up come and see the physical embodiment of our economic decisions! The empty shop is an increasingly familiar sight in all our high streets. Empty shops are like a box, but when sunlight pours through the window it becomes a theatre. Each telling a unique story. How you see it is of course as different as we are all different from each other. sad endings, exciting beginnings an opportunity, a natural conclusion or an internet driven bankruptcy, Without comment the paintings show the empty interior displayed to the street, a commercial void, through murky windows, paired back distressed walls, no furniture, strip outs - in a hurry, sometimes leaving behind all the things not needed for the next big thing, half a counter with coffee cups left by the estate agents and prospective developers, old mail, brown and final demands on the floor, and always a circus poster. What they all have in common is change. For better or worse, moving on or being forced out, each vacant shop represents a line in the sand, a moment in the livelihood of a family or a red line in the accounts of a multinational’s ledger. The Greek philosopher Heraclitus has been quoted as saying,” Change is the only constant in life” And as the trees in the forest die and grow, die and grow, nothing stays the same everything changes. Change in our environment can feel uncomfortable, unsettling but it can also inspire. Goffe’s paintings challenge your reaction.