press release for StISA show , 2009

‘SUBVERSIVE FIGURES’
An exhibition of figurative painting and sculpture which explores the strange territory and
occasional overlap between the beautiful and the ugly.

WHERE ?
The Main Gallery, St Ives Society of Artists , Norway Square , St Ives ,
Cornwall TR26 1NA
Contact : Gallery Manager April Brooks , tel 01736 795582

WHEN ?
Preview party , Saturday 2nd May 6pm – 9pm
Exhibition 29th April –2nd June ,
Monday - Saturday

ABOUT THE EXHIBITION

‘ Subversive Figures ‘ is the third exhibition on this theme from an recently formed group of artists all of whom have a current connection with Cornwall . Our group includes both established and emerging artists : Some of us show locally , some of us show internationally and some of us rarely emerge from our studios to show at all !

Our initial group – which has since expanded -was ignited by a spark from the
‘ Spontaneous Combustion 2’ Exhibition held in St Ives in Summer 2007 . Focussed on emotional responses this show asked artists to explore “ How do you feel ? how do you REALLY feel ?” and provided a welcome opportunity for all of us to work beyond the constraints of the ( largely ) tourist driven local commercial art environment : We were able to show work which would not sit easily in local commercial galleries and some of us were grateful for the chance to show work ‘ at home’ which is usually exported to different markets and hence misses the local audience .

As individual artists ,we all share an interest in representing the human form and in exploring the emotional impact on the viewer of the distortions , idiosyncrasies and hybridizations that we employ to do so . As Aristotle established in the Poetics , it is possible to make beautiful imitations of ugly or imperfect things and as Francis Bacon might have acknowledged , it is equally possible to do the reverse ! Sometimes the boundary between beautiful and ugly is not clearly drawn , so that both co-exist within the same representation : As the witches in Macbeth put it “ fair is foul and foul is fair …”.

As drawing the line between the beautiful and the ugly is itself a highly subjective matter we hope to gain reaction to this exhibition from a wide audience ! Like marmite , you might love it , hate it or find that your response is double edged or time dependent ( that strange , slightly disturbing aftertaste ! ). What we hope is that you will come and join us for a show where your personal response to the work IS part of the experiment . We look forward to seeing you for what promises to be an emotionally loaded experience.