陈列您的艺术作品给每天无数的访客观看

My work deals with notions of the interplay between the past and our childhood, and the present, an important facet to the understanding of which is the role of memory. Our memories help us to make sense of what has gone in the past, and the past is the cornerstone of what gives us our sense of being who we are today. Of crucial importance in helping us to remember the past are old family photographs that we see as helping us to remember the events and people of the past. But how truthful are the photographs to how things actually were and how truthful to our childhood memories of those times, and do they of themselves create another “false” memory – made real in our sub-conscious by the forcefulness of that photographic image. How does this impact on our actual childhood memories and by implication our sense of who we are?

The paintings take as their starting point snapshots taken from the family album, together with found photographs, reconstituted to make yet another image to show up this interaction between false and real memory. It is a concept further enhanced by combining essentially monochrome images with coloured elements, representing the generally black and white source photographs, combined with actual memories of the colours of clothing or things. By further denying any specific reference to a specific time or place from the photograph, in the use of plain, brightly coloured backgrounds, we are able to concentrate on the emotional impact of the figures and the memories they may suggest. Denying these specific references also serves to remove the images from the personal and autobiographical and enables the viewer to relate with his or her own experiences through the narrative implied in the paintings and engage with them on a level personal to them. The painting in this way subverts the role of the photograph as an enabler of memories, in whatever form they may take.

Pearls

oil on canvas
46 x 46

Devon

oil on canvas
150 x 120

Tea Party

oil on canvas
150 x 120

Five

oil on canvas
183 x 122

Sports Day # 1

oil on canvas
30 x 31

The 99

2005
oil on canvas
46 x 46

Swing # 1

oil on canvas
95 x 140

Ready...Steady...

2007
42