Wilderness

About

Davis, Gursev & Kelly's works each interpret notions of seemingly abandoned spaces. The results depict urban and dystopianscenes, as if in the wake of apocalypse. Brought together, these artists each interpret wilderness as a mindstate, a physical place, and - most importantly - a melancholic and poetic space ripe with creativity. Wilderness is a show not to be missed, with new works on display from each of the artists.

In Rosalind Davis' mixed media painting, one finds the power and presence of seemingly barren urban landscapes. Their historical, social and political backgrounds are sutured into architectural dimensions. Rosalind's stitches and brushstroke's repair and give substance, providing a scaffolding to what lies beneath and within structural urban design. The environments she represents are but support structures, as the artist envisions the identities and the human experiences that animate the edifices. The meticulousness of the printed textiles possesses intimate and alluring qualities. They not only provide cultural links to the eras of the buildings but equally emphasize the fragility of the spaces, the people therein and the disconcerting juxtaposition between aesthetics and meaning.

Wilderness is uninhabited land in Enver Gursev's work. His paintings and sculptures revere forsaken environments and attempt to imbue opulence to mundane abandoned landscapes which once sustained a society. Although on the periphery of human existence, these landscapes yet sustain a life of their very own. Enver's work explores memories, both personal and collective, as well as the effect ofcultural displacement upon communities.

Neil Kelly's work spans painting, photography installation and drawing. Wilderness is informed by the artist's reaction to his immediate environment and surroundings. Central to Neil's work is everyday experience, ranging from introspective questions to explorations of banality, failed aspirations and boredom. In his hands, these themes are treated with a flat, knowing awkwardness. Kelly often uses found objects from thrift stores or flea markets to further illustrate his world-view. These objects are altered through almost childlike vandalism, imparting a sense of creative abandon. Kelly's work often hints at what he terms a 'Conflict of Englishness' that is reflected with tongue firmly in cheek.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

Rosalind Davis is a graduate from the RCA (2005) and Chelsea College of Art (2003) She has exhibited her work nationally and internationally including Salon 08, The Clare Morris Open, the Grieve and Samaritans Art Prize, Fringe MK Painting Prize, the New Cross Art Prize and had solo shows at Julian Hartnoll, Salon Projects, John Jones, Deptford X and The Residence Gallery.
Rosalind also writes a blog on Artist's talking on A-N (www.a-n.co.uk) which has received much acclaim, winning one of 2009's blog of the year. It was also selected by Matt Roberts (Matt Roberts Arts) as a choice blog of the month in 2009.
www.rosalinddavis.co.uk

Enver Gürsev is a painter and sculptor. Enver was mentored by late Eduardo Paolozzi and went to study a BA (Hons), Visual Arts, Sculpture at Camberwell College of Arts, London (2000). Gürsev has a broad experience of working in the arts and was an active member of 'The Foreign Office' collective of artists from 1996 onwards. Amongst other art projects in 2004 he helped coordinate and run the 'Reconciliation Through the Arts' project; 'The Way We Are', which brought together the work of displaced and re-located children and young people living in the north and the south of Cyprus. In 2009 Gürsev designed and ran a Contemporary Painting short course for ArtsCom at the Art in Action festival in Oxford. He has taken part in over 30 exhibitions to date and has done residencies and collaborations with other progressive artists, such as Julio Pisarro in Colombia, Jo Carpineto in the USA, Cuba and Cyprus. At present he is an associate lecturer at the University of the Arts London.

Neil Kelly graduated with a MA in Fine Art from Wimbledon School of Art in 2004. Since then, Kelly has gone on to have two solo shows George's House Gallery, Folkestone and CBA Gallery Deptford, London. He has been selected for the John Moores 24 Painting Prize, The Jerwood Drawing Prize and is also the only Artist to be selected by panels of independent judges for all three Creekside Open Exhibitions at the APT London.
www.neilkellyart.com