NOX by Becky Allen

About

BECKY ALLEN'S drawings respond to the different states of consciousness which are an essential part of our incongruous mind. In turn she creates paradoxical works. Her exploration of fact and the objective aim to expose the subjective and intangible. She aims to visualise what cannot be seen yet is experienced by everyone. She concerns herself with the Sleep Paradox. ALLEN'S recent work has been influenced by an understanding of the science of sleep and her research has led her to acquiring neurological data to aid her practice and reveal the dream state. With no objective way to measure, record or preserve dreams, the imagery she creates aims to represent the juxtaposition of her data findings with the ethereal and surreal narratives created by our brain whilst asleep. Furthermore, ALLEN'S drawings have begun to acknowledge the role of religion within dreams as divine revelations; a universal way to reach the place that is spiritual to us. Further studies suggest our perception of the afterlife and question life after death. Our eternal dream. ALLEN approaches these ideas with intricate line work and mark making techniques. This practice aims to display the delicate and precious nature of dreams and also reflect the many different ways in which they can be interpreted. Her work takes inspiration from the illustrations of neuroscientist Santiago Ramón y Cajal accompanied by an exploration of Mythology. In particular, she is fascinated by the personification of night, Nox, and The Gateways of Horn and Ivory that distinguish types of dream. These myths reveal mankind's constant endeavor in trying to explain the nightly ritual and what we see with our mind's eye; the essential idea behind this body of work. NOX runs from 21st March — 6th May 2012, at Art Work Space. PRIVATE VIEW: Wednesday 28th March 6.30pm — 8.30pm