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.