| |
|
Kathryn
in front of
Shrine
213
x 213 cm
plaster,
gesso, gold & Oils on panel
|
|
When
talking about herself and her work Kathryn Dodd is reluctant
to call herself a painter although she refers to the finished
works as 'paintings' - she says: 'I think of a 'painter' as
being involved in the process of expression through the medium
of paint, the material is the carner of the process and the
very physicality of the interaction with the paint is primary.
The use of materials for me is really about expediency; I
am looking for the most efficient way to talk about ideas.
I think of myself as a hybrid between designer, painter, letterer,
writer and even sculptor (in as much as some of my paintings
involve the building of surface relief). My work is not really
about 'expression', conversely I think of these paintings
as acts of containment, they are more about defining edges
and boundaries and the holding of ideas and feelings than
the expression of them, at the end of the day it's an attempt
to bring order to chaos and create a window of space in which
to focus on, identify and describe elusive ideas. I think
of art as an extension to our ordinary mode of interaction
with the world, a bit of end-space, an extra dimension'.
|
| These
paintings are first and foremost about concept and content but
they are made with a keen design sensibility and the subtle
graphic organisation of compositional elements reveals the artists
long-term experience with design and lettering. This is an important
factor in the reading of these works, she is offering a familiar
language of designed space alongside the use of words and lettering
with which to extrapolate and define some of the complex and
evasive issues she is addressing. |
|
Matrix 1
91
x 91cm
Oil on
panel |
Two
100
x100cm
Oil
and carved plaster on board
|
|
Surface
and finishing are paramount, these are beautiful objects skilfully
wrought. Lovely surfaces, oil glazes, scratched lettering, sometimes
plaster, gesso and gold. They have a seductive glamour, which
deceives a little to draw the viewer closer to consider some
of the challenging issues embedded within. They are intelligent
paintings layered with ideas and' stories about self, science,
psychology and spirit. There is a dark undercurrent, which sometimes
emerges to envelop the surface, that considers issues of loss,
identity and violation but overall these are celebratory paintings
about resilience and beauty. |
Night Shift
Diptych
@ 60 x 60cm
Oil on
board |
Dodd
has made her home in rural West Wales coming originally from
the London Suburbs although her family roots lie in the North
East of Scotland and this cultural composite resonates strongly
within her work. The visual impact is controlled and contained
but the use of the artist's words, poetry, symbols and iconic
forms, which are often incorporated into the whole, give the
work an edgy romance. There is a suburban constraint disturbed
and infiltrated by the deep stories, songs and languages of
old, more enduring cultures and the restless discomfiture
of a migrant perennially questing for identity and belonging.
|
Skinwalker
Triptych
@ 60 x 60cm
Oil
on panel
|
| |
Recent
Exhibitions
Solo
Exhibitions:
2004 MOMA Wales, Y Tabemacl, Machynlleth
2005 Queen's Hall Gallery, Narberth, Wales
Group Exhibitions:
2002 'The Written Word' - Portsmouth City Art Gallery &
Museum
2003 'Modern Welsh Art' - MOMA Wales, Y Tabemacl, Machynlleth
2003 Newton Barry House Gallery, Co. Wexford, Ireland
2003 Apple Gallery, Godalming, Surrey
2003/4 Crane Gallery, Swansea
2004 'Focal' Ruthin Festival of Contemporary Art, Denbighshire
2004/5 Fountain Fine Art, Llandeilo
2005 Washington Gallery - Cardiff
2005 KooyWood Gallery - Cardiff
Projects:
2004 Illustration and lettering for Royal Mail presentation
pack for Welsh stamp series
|
Kathryn
can be contacted at:
kathryn@kdart.fsnet.co.uk
|
|
|
|
|
