Great Expectations Exhibition
- Written byPost-Grad Community
- Published date 16 March 2022
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Louise Crawford - Alumni in MA Art & Science at Central Saint Martins tell us about her upcoming exhibition.
British artist Louise Crawford, creator of Studio 8_47, will be hosting an afternoon of painting and performance to celebrate May Day Weekend on the 7th and 8th May, 2022.
The exhibition is aptly entitled Great Expectations, as the story of Great Expectations by Charles Dickens reflects on a time of great social change.
Playing with both worded and wordless communication through colour, sound, rhythm, and literature, spoken word and storytelling, the aim of the exhibition is to lift people’s spirits through inclusive and diverse language so visitors can merge together to share stories and ideas to create positive growth and promote a sense of wellbeing.
The exhibition will be held at Egerton Place: Grade II listed building, which was originally built as Egerton School in 1843.
As the Ukraine’s national flower, the sunflower, becomes an international symbol for peace and hope, Louise’s work also takes inspiration from the language of flowers as a way of expressing emotions. In the Victorian era for example, when social etiquette and verbal communication was arguably often more formal, and emotions less understood, flowers were a non- verbal way to express feelings. This was a time when Freud and Jung were becoming known for inventive ways of how to evaluate the psyche through the structure of the subconscious, and making new discoveries about suppressed emotion and the impact of that on our wellbeing and the positive benefits nature has on our health.
‘Sunflowers & Shadows’, is a painting about optimism concerning climate change, the shadows of time and our connections to the natural world. Reflecting on being at the eleventh hour to reduce the long- term impact to negative effects of climate change, this authentic image addresses the positive benefits nature has on our health. Using the St Pancras clock, and Sunflowers to show the juxtaposition of manmade vs. natural objects, and the impact we can have during our fleeting time on earth, leaving shadows of either creation or destruction for the next generation.
Speaking of the exhibition, Louise says:
As a way of showing support for the Ukraine, there will also be a new installation the public can participate in from 2nd April during the town’s art trail, which will be exhibited at the Royal May Day exhibition.
Louise’s interests lay in how long-term exposure to both authentic and manipulated images can alter human behaviour and construct new realities. With the growing movement of the arts as a social prescription, and ever changing modes of communication throughout human history, Louise is interested in paintings role as an important mode of communication and space to gather and improve our habitat. Neuroscience research surrounding how emotions are formed, and the way in which words can be conceptual prisons, along with the science of colour, retina oscillation and colour music theory, hold a particular fascination.
Louise concluded by saying,
The team of artists participating voluntarily in this community exhibition want to celebrate coming together through hard times and looking forward to a brighter future. Amongst those taking part is local artist and musician Dave Boardman. New and exclusive music will be provided by UNE’s Paul Langley and well-known BBC Radio DJ, Mark Radcliffe, via an ambient sound, music and video installation.
Behind-the-scenes images will be shared @Studio 8_47 on Instagram channel to give the wider creative community another platform to engage with.
The exhibition runs from 7 - 8 May, 2022.
For more information and behind-the-scenes insights on “The School of Life” make sure you are following the Post-Grad Community’s Instagram @ual_postgrad_community - we will be doing a takeover!
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