Journeys - 'On Paper'

About

The medium of paper serves as a vital bridge, seamlessly connecting the intangible realm of creative thought with the tangible world of artistic expression. Despite its pivotal role in translating an artist's vision into reality, the embedded narratives within the canon of Art History often relegate paper to notions of 'practice', 'elementary', and 'unfinished'. Journeys severs these appendaged perceptions, offering a profound re-evaluation of paper's significance not just as a preliminary tool for larger canvases, but as a conduit for the purest forms of artistic innovation, exploration, and expression to come to fruition.

The curated selection of works on paper serves as an authentic and unfiltered dictation of the artists' responses to their subject matter. Ranging from quick sketches to meticulously crafted studies and paintings, these reveal the inner workings of the artist’s subconscious minds, intertwined with their reflections on living life in this contemporary age. This exhibition operates on a frequency that values honesty and vulnerability, allowing the audience to connect, resonate, and understand artistic processes and techniques, thus forging a more intimate connection between the artist and viewer.

Sophie-Yen Bretez displays her ‘dessin's’, early-stage drawings which inform and develop into her larger-scale works. Subverting the nude figure and subsequent ‘male gaze’, Bretez creates powerful and confrontational compositions that enact a reclamation of beauty, sexuality, and femininity. Andrew Litten’s works on paper embody the psychological narratives of the everyday. Diverse in scale and medium, he displays compositions that are raw and vulnerable in depiction, alluding to the deeper truths that encompass our human nature. Hyper-realist Darren Reid shares his studies which heavily inform his painting process. Each work displayed is enriched with intricate details of found imagery using paper for its methodical and tangible qualities. Darren Reid’s works on paper coalesce method with narrative, displaying both the technical and creative sides of artistic oeuvre.

By challenging the prevailing narratives and elevating paper to its rightful place as a cornerstone of artistic expression, Journeys celebrates the boundless capabilities paper encapsulates. Each artist in this exhibition uses paper as a medium to communicate what is innate within them, whether it be for methodical planning, emotional exertion, creative ideas, or psychological manifestations. It invites audiences to embark on a journey of discovery, where the inherent beauty and versatility of paper is revealed in all its splendour.