Imperial
Works 30/10/08
New work by THE OBSCURITIES at The Jago
Gallery
Imperial: adj. Of, relating to, or suggestive of an
empire or a sovereign; Regal; majestic; Outstanding in size or
quality; Of or belonging to the British Imperial System of weights
and measures.
Imperial: n; A pointed beard grown from the
lower lip and chin.
The Obscurities are an Artist's
Collective living and working in North London. Imperial Works brings
together the four Artist's most recent individual works as well as
projects undertaken as a collective.
One such collaborative
project is a reinterpretation of the Surrealist game "Exquisite
Corpse" (in which each collaborator works on a section of the
body to create a completed figure, with all other sections hidden
from them until completion). The figures are set on a Gold leaf
panel, reminiscent of valued Byzantine Christian Icons. This unique
fusion of 20th century and 4th-5th Century styles and practices is
enhanced by the Obscurities own contemporary input. As a work that
benefits from the amalgamation of different styles, this project
allows each artist to play to the strengths of their personal
style.
George Winks works in oils and mixed media. Much of his
work is concerned with the extremes of chaos and order resulting in
an interest in the ideas of Quantum physics and Chaos theory. Winks
is articulate and intelligent in his exploration of these deep and
complex ideas but, refreshingly, an appreciation of his work does not
rely upon an understanding of these concepts, it is merely enhanced
by it. His work was recently exhibited as part of the Threadneedle
Figurative Prize.
Miriam Maselkowski's recent output has been
mainly textiles based, although her application of the medium is far
from conventional. She has developed an original technique of "thread
and nail drawing". This involves painstakingly representing
figurative subjects, in dark thread wound around set points on a
panel. The works resemble complex line drawings, but with the
visually intriguing effect of the textile aesthetic giving the work a
three dimensional, almost holographic quality.
Katherine
Prendergast works predominantly in paint, in a more abstract mode,
and has recently become interested in the ways in which maps can
represent reality. In particular, she is interested in our subjective
human responses based on our emotional connections to the places
represented. Prendergast works to her own set method but is always
led by a faith in gut feeling.
Justin Fitzpatrick developed
an interest in representing space in paint from his beginnings in
sculpture. His more recent work is concerned with the poetry of
Sylvia Plath, but has retained a strong sense of physical and
emotional space. He creates a host of semi-mythical characters, each
focusing on a facet of Plath's work and life, although always set in
a hauntingly barren emotional and physical landscape, reminiscent of
De Chirico.
30th October – 15th September. Open Daily Midday
to Midnight.
The Jago Gallery: 77 Redchurch Street, London E2
7DJ
www.theobscurities.com