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FIGURES
Cafe exhibition by artist Rita Brown
Fri 13 October – Tue 21 November
Friday 13 October – Tuesday 21 November 2023
FIGURES: cafe exhibition by artist Rita Brown
Working as artist in residence to contemporary dance companies, Rita’s paintings and mixed media works take the form of non-literal / emotionally expressed responses to the visual experience. Observing the collaborative creation of ideas, improvisations, rehearsals and final performances of dancers. With a knowledge of anatomy and use of layering of paint and glazes the works slowly build, capturing fleeting moments.
ARTIST STATEMENT
‘This small body of work is a taster exhibition from a series of artist residencies with contemporary dance and performance companies. I have drawn the dancers while they have been creating new, cutting-edge choreography either for performance or when companies have been refining and restructuring current pieces on tour. Connection with the performers is essential both emotionally and professionally, in their journey through the creative process of developing a new idea expressed in movement.
I have found myself engaged by the human condition as expressed by dance observing the way dancers portray the human emotions of love, separation, anger, loss, unity and playfulness to name but a few.
As an observing artist I am exposed to the light, emotion, movement, expression and sound in fleeting moments that are challenging to capture. I must fix my gaze upon the dancers instead of on the surface, allowing the media to flow across the paper following the dancers in motion. Quick sketches and notes in the form of marks are then developed into more considered paintings. Relying on memory and the emotional engagement with the performers I search through my mark making and iterations of paint to find an image will emerge.
My aim has been to capture the spirit and essence of the performers in a moment of time as they move through space’.
My work has won many awards in a long, professional career in art; living, painting and teaching art in London, Hong Kong and Singapore having exhibited extensively in the UK and abroad.
I have worked as resident artist with the following contemporary dance companies from 2011-2021:
Fleur Darkin | Lila Dance | White Light | Atma Mayuri Boonham | Vicky Hearne | Khamalane Halsakda | Jonzi D | Blanca Li Elektrokif | Acid Dance | Elodie Escarmelle | Probe | Laura Vanhulle | Chora | Vicky Malin | James Wilton
FREE ENTRY
Café Wall
Monday – Sunday
9am to 5pm
