Fascinated with pattern and colour, Louise’s current work depicts images taken from her recent travels to China, Dubai and Tunisia. Interested in the relationship between tourism and advertising and the western perception of what is seen to be an exotic destination, Louise explores the contradictions between idealised holiday destinations and distorted illusions of the reality of a place. As with her degree show which commented on the censorship of the reality of communist Cuba whilst challenging our preconceived ideas of this exotic destination, many of her works explore the portrayed ideals of a country, in particular China, the world’s fastest growing communist economy.

A concept which Louise has tried to introduce into her work, was the idea that her photos, which are ultimately a souvenir of her holiday and taken as a tourist, are a conscious selection of reality that more accurately represents these destinations at that moment in time.

Digitally manipulating many of the original photos to heighten colour and define tonal contrasts by flattening the image, influences within her work include artists such as Peter Doig, Julian Opie, Daniel Richter and South American artists for example Raul Martinez. Diverse resources such as 19th Century woodblock prints, propaganda posters and vintage travel posters have also become an important inspiration behind her work.

Since her degree show, her fascination with the reflections found within the chrome-work of the 1950’s Cuban cars has developed with Louise now working with aluminium. The high gloss finish of the paint and the reflections within the metal, create a visual interaction between the viewer and the painting whereby the onlooker’s reflection adds another, changing dimension to the image. Wanting to avoid the uniformly ‘graphic’ images associated with her poster influences, Louise is constantly exploring the possibilities of the materials she uses and is attempting to find a balance between the fluidity of the paint and more restrained ‘blocks’ of colour.

 

Our Christmas show is a vibrant mix of all our favourite artists plus a few new comers to the gallery; paintings, bronze, ceramics, print and jewellery. Featured artists include:

Painters - Julian Mason, Louise Sanders ARBSA, Erni Upton FRSA, Colin Halliday, Jon Thompson, Angella Scott, Wilf Langford, Lesley Fisher, Judith Moy, Thelma Ayre, Annabel Thornton, Martin Eldridge, Jacqui Chapman and many others.

Ceramics - Francoise Dufayard, Emma Rodgers, Ostinelli & Priest, Steffan Andersson Viv Ross, Craig Underhill and others.

Print - Jonathan Kaufman & Pam Newall

 

We have been putting together a news blog over the last month and it’s going live today. It gives you all the latest news and a little look behind the scenes at the day to day goings on. It will shortly be linked to the news button at the top of the page or just click on this link GOINGS ON AT THE GALLERY

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