A stunning collection of paintings, sculpture and decorative art from the 13th century to the present day.
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A stunning collection of paintings, sculpture and decorative art from the 13th century to the present day.
John Moores 25
This exhibition is being held at the Walker Art Gallery, 20 September 2008 - 9 January 2009
Acrylic on wood,160 x 122 cm, 2007
I am interested in the idea of play as a metaphor for how society operates. We live in
an era where daily life is becoming ever more structured, planned and controlled. It
feels as if there exists a complex group of games with rules and laws to follow, while
at the same time there are rule-breakers and alternatives to the system.
I am exploring how games can function in a similar, parallel way and the relationship of that idea to my work. As well as in painting, games have space and time limitations.
Decision-making and chance are also involved. I investigate how these diverse
elements can inform my creative production of art.
Rules can provide a basis for painting, issuing instructions and outlining strategies.
At the same time, decision-making, chance and judgment allow the breaking of
the system, hopefully enjoying fresh and direct creative actions, opening up new
possibilities for the outcome.
The use of basic geometric shapes reinforces a universal understanding, while at
the same time these are not rigid painted shapes. I also use non-geometric shapes, suggesting more the human activity in the artwork. Colour and its different qualities
are an important aspect of my practice. I treat colour as an evolving experimentation
within our cultural and visual context.
Marta Marcé was born in Barcelona in 1972. She
attended Facultat de Belles Arts Barcelona 1990-95 and the Royal College
of Art London 1998-2000. London solo shows include 'Diadem Paintings'
Riflemaker 2007 and 'Is this abstraction?' (residency) Camden Arts Centre
2007. Group shows are 'Jerwood Painting Prize 2001' Jerwood Space London,
'Marta Marcé: Recent Work' (with Sigmar Polke) Milton Keynes Gallery 2001,
'The Bold & the Beautiful: New Art from London' Carnegie Gallery Hobart
Australia 2003, 'New British Painting: Part I' John Hansard Gallery Southampton
2003, 'Slipping Abstraction' Mead Gallery Warwick 2007 and 'Displaypark' South
London Gallery 2008. Included in 'John Moores 23' 2004.