MELISSA BARKER
My interest lies in the Altering of imagery using differing techniques of collage. With the motive to deceive the first expectation of the viewer, to a second glance of realisation of an altered and manipulated image. With ideas of man's defiant urge to control nature, and nature's ever over-ruling power to succumb man's efforts. Using repetition of forms I am reflecting the continous efforts of man and discovering ideas of the 'uncanny'. Unknown events of nature's discourse that are 'about to happen' are suggested in works creating feelings of wonder and suspense.
ANNA DUNKLEY
“To say I have an interest in the human appearance would be an understatement.
My desire is to represent the facial form through the process of paint, building layer upon layer to make it become 3D and cause the viewer to experience some kind of connection to the subject. This is why I paint people I know. How can one express another’s true qualities when they have no formed relationship with the subject?
The model in my work is older, someone to whom I am close. The look in their eyes I feel is a reflection of the past, previous life changing occurrences that will always follow them in their thoughts.”
JESSICA JOYCE
My work is a comment and a seterical play on how society has changed and traditional values that i obtain and have been brought up to believe hold little value today. The influeneces of a single sex education and the ideas behind it, has caused me to make work to expose the obscurity and ridiculousness of what was expected of me as a 'young lady' a response to the society i was brought up in.
LAURA THOMPSON
My practice tends to be topical, a current reflection on our society. My work has to initially engage the viewer as it slowly reveals itself and the concepts behind the formalities. At present my ideas revolve around the closing of the Library throughout the UK. The outrage that builds inside me sparked the big statement my installation pieces make about these cuts and asks the viewer to have their own connection and emotions towards the closing down of the Library; thinking of the loss of language this impact will ultimately have upon society as their favourite authors are coffined underground for good.
I see a lot of the things I do in art as a balancing act of different elements, a perfect example is figurative and abstraction. The paintings looks dreamy to some, hazy to others; they are a collection of ideas and thoughts twisted and mixed, merged and compared. Each painting has a limited pallet. They can seem light and fun on the surface with recognisable objects but further looking can reveal dark, distorted undertones, where something is not quite right. I have an instinctive approach to making work. The paintings are created quickly so the results can be raw and have an unfinished look. Paint and marks are stripped back giving minimal information allowing the viewer to take ownership of the work prompting the paintings to be a platform for their imagination.
