EMMA
BENNETT
Death &
Co.
Private
View
Thursday June 3rd
6.30pm-8.30pm
Exhibition
Dates
Friday June 4th -
Saturday July 3rd
2010
Gallery
Hours
Wednesday - Saturday 11am-6pm or by
appointment
Address
336 Old St, London, EC1V
9DR
Images%20(EB%2010)THUMB400%20Bennett%20'For%20Want%20of%20Sleep'%20Oil%20&%20French%20enamel%20on%20canvas%20150x120cm%202010.jpg)
'For Want of Sleep' Oil
& French enamel on canvas 150x120cm
2010
CHARLIE SMITH london is delighted to
present Emma Bennett's first one person show at the gallery.
Drawing on her previous paintings of
still life elements set against expansive void-like grounds, Bennett proposes a
contemplation on time, space and the fragility of the human condition.
Underlined by a wistful acknowledgement of the sublime and the tragic, Bennett
embraces the notion of the memento
mori in her delicate application of appropriated imagery combined with
expressive techniques derived from 20th century abstract
painting.
In 'Death & Co.' Bennett
continues to excavate 17th and 18th century Dutch painting
for figurative motifs. She now averts her attention from images of hunted game
that populated her previous work towards the maritime painting of Willem van de
Velde, Jan Porcellis or Hendrik Jacobsz Dubbels. In doing so, Bennett's
monochromatic grounds become representational spatial fields, at once figurative
and abstract, with sailing ships appearing from or receding into night time
nothingness. As the artist states:
'The vessels appear to be travelling
into the void like space of the canvas. These ships represent individual
journeys through life and reflect on the isolated state of people as they make
their journeys, whether through passages of calm waters or treacherous high
seas.'
Solitude, the passage of time, and a
sense of becoming are alluded to, as are notions of value systems and
materiality. Referring to the Dutch Golden Age where international trade and
enterprise established the Netherlands as a world power,
facilitated by its shipping industry, Bennett subverts conventional notions of
wealth and emasculates historical power systems by enveloping imperial ships
with beautifully rendered still life fruits and flowers. Thus, in this
fascinating new series of paintings, Bennett
questions the nature of commerce as well as historical methods of colonial
exploitation and undermines its use of authority and dominance.
Please contact gallery for images and
further
information
Biographical:
Born:
1974
Education: 1997 ? 1998: MA in Fine
Art, Chelsea
College of Art and Design; 1993 ? 1996: BA (Hons) in Fine
Art, Central Saint Martins College of Art &
Design
Selected Exhibitions:
2010: Death & Co (Solo), CHARLIE SMITH london, London; New British Painting, Gallery Kalhama & Piippo Contemporary, Helsinki; 2009: The
Future Can Wait, Old Truman Brewery, London; New London School, Galerie
Schuster, Berlin; 2008: The Future Can Wait, Old
Truman Brewery, London; 2007: The Future Can Wait, Old Truman Brewery, London;
Equinox, Sarah Myerscough Fine Art, London;
2006: Nocturnal, Sarah Myerscough Fine Art,
London; John Moores 24 / Liverpool Biennale, Walker Gallery, Liverpool; 2002: Emma Bennett: New Paintings
(2002), Danielle Arnaud Contemporary
Art, London; 2001: A Month in the Garden, The Museum of Garden History, London;
2001: Bittersweet, Danielle Arnaud Contemporary Art, London
Collections: K & K Kollektion, Monaco; David Roberts, London; private collections in Germany, Italy, Switzerland, United
Kingdom and United States
CHARLIE SMITH london
Ltd.
+44 (0)20 7739
4055
direct@charliesmithlondon.com
www.charliesmithlondon.com
www.thefuturecanwait.com
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