My recent show, Tales in Ink was my first solo showcase, an accumulated collection of my work so far, made up of works that delve into the surreal intricacies of world mythology and with the intention of combining elements to create my own narrative. My koi fish have become a recurring motif in my work, a constant companion as I navigated through new practices and developed new ideas. The fish, much like the zodiac sign of Pisces represents the constant struggle of an artist, with the two fish representing the eternal balancing act of the conscious and the unconscious in the quest for inspiration.
My use of ink as a primary medium, gives an unpredictability in its creation especially when combined with salts, as unexpected colours, tones and textures leach out. As a result, it is very much a medium that you have to work together with, rather than attempting to control.
Religious imagery such as stain glass design and ecclesiastical women is a recent addition to my lexicon and traces back to my formative years living in Spain, with continuous tours of cathedrals and our regular visits to the Thyssen Museum which boasts an impressive collection of precious early renaissance paintings. I was able to combine these elements with more spiritual and folkloric themes and meanings that are at the core of my work.
The exhibition really conveyed how impressionable you are during your childhood, how the imagery you absorb will ultimately dictate your tastes and interests which you will spend your adulthood trying to decode.
Elle Tennyson: Tales in Ink, 22.04.2024- 29.04.2024, St George's Arts Centre
Comments