Laura Deakin‘s first solo exhibition, ‘layered traces, folded spaces‘, is currently on at Gallery Funaki. It’s the first exhibition of the year for Gallery Funaki, and I very much enjoyed the visit, and introducing a lovely new jewellery-loving friend to the gallery.
exhibition image; used with gallery permission; click on link to see original image and description
Exhibition media: “Pour part one and add a dash of pigment. Part two comes next – the hardening catalyst – measured precisely into the thick, coloured mixture. Mix thoroughly, press, scratch and mould. It’s a race against the clock; a few minutes and the resin will become solid as its molecules are reorganised. Malleability will turn to rigidity. A chemical bond is forming that cannot be broken… it’s now or never.
These moments of transition are what Laura Deakin’s work deals with: changes of state, changes of form, changes in the very essence of material. But look closer and the transitions go beyond the material to address other, more poetic changes of state. Natural becomes unnatural. The personal becomes anonymous, and vice versa. Presence translates to absence and the extinct is suddenly corporeal. Real turns to fake, and fake becomes precious.“
The above first image above is from of a small group of works in the exhibition from ‘A Gap in Nature‘ series. They are made of layers of resin with pigment, and of course represent birds … they’re quite dramatic and colourful. From this series is also a piece called ‘Etched Forever’ – a pale pink brooch that I liked very much.
All below images used with the generous permission of the artist; not to be reproduced without artist permission.
image courtesy of artist; copyright belongs to the artist; Dishonest Pearl Mix
There are also pieces here from the ‘Pearl‘ and ‘Confused‘ series; such as the ones in the above image.
There’s something I quite like about these pieces, but also something that strikes an uneasy chord … I’ve tried to figure out what it is, but without much luck. The pearls remind me of my nana, in that women of her era wore and valued the gem; and so many ladies of limited means wore the lesser quality pearls … perhaps the value instilled in them by her would be uncomfortable with their treatment or interpretation here?
This is by no means a criticism of the work, not at all! I am fascinated in trying to understand my reaction … and it’s important to note that my appreciation of these pieces has definitely blossomed more while contemplating them, such that in a strange way the unease has all but disappeared…
Laura has a fantastic website, with great images of her work and some essays that make very good reading – make sure you spend some time visiting it …
image courtesy of the artist; copyright belongs to the artist; Impressions of that Necklace
My favourite group in the exhibition is from the ‘Impression‘ series. I especially liked the pale pink neckpiece (above) made from resin components molded from a clasp from a vintage necklace … it’s quite beautiful, silent and gentle.
I have found over time that I like jewellery with a sense of weight, so am somewhat challenged with what I expect would be quite light pieces – I wonder what the above piece may look and feel like if the components were completely solid (not hollow at the back)?
All of the groups are quite different, in my perception of their focus and contemplation, though they are all connected by their materials and the use of the materials to imitate and replicate and make reference. I enjoyed this exhibition, and even more upon further thought.
‘layered traces, folded spaces‘ is at Gallery Funaki until 28th February 2011.
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