Release
167 Whitecross Street, London, EC1Y 8JT
19.09.24 - 11.10.24
Artbox London is proud to present RELEASE, a group exhibition of artists that explore colour, rhythm, order and abstraction.
The works on show all tell a story of how distinct the 9 exhibiting artists are. This is perhaps most observable in the ways that each artist makes their mark - with how they make contact with the surface. By paying attention to the lines, daubs, scratches and stripes, one can start to feel a unique physicality, a sense of a unique body and mind behind every piece. Ultimately, the work is a record of each of their individual personhoods in a world that otherwise seeks to categorise them solely by their disability and render them indistinct. Simply, they are statements that they are here, that they exist, that they have a voice.
In every case, the art made by these people serves as a crucial way for them to share their voice, to be heard, to share something of their experience. This is at the core of the work that Artbox does, and is one of the fundamental powers of art: it provides us with a way to communicate, to stamp our unique mark on the world and make a record of our existence. To express, to move, to release.
Meet The Artists
Lucy
Lucy has confidently been creating geometric designs over many different mediums. She has been experimenting away from works on paper, leading to the development of works, such as the clock, hanging scroll and her lamp. While creating the lamp, Lucy realised that her name comes from the Latin for light, “lux.”
These works are decorated with her signature style - her work is slowly and patiently covered in patterns and Lucy always uses bright warm colours. Lucy’s work is comforting, orderly and colourful; one can feel her fondness for the familiar and predictable
Felix
Unlike many of us, Felix is not afraid to begin. He pounces towards the canvas in total engagement, and colours begin to build. In a composition of stripes, smears and dapples, Felix arranges fields of paint into blooming bodies of colour and light. This practice pairs with a meditative focus, compiling and composing marks until he decides it’s time to stop.
Artbox is an important part of Felix’s week and a significant catalyst for his creative expression, providing space and mediums with which to experiment. Paul, Felix’s father, explains with admiration that Felix has no aim. Paul describes Felix’s intense interest in observing the world around him, going to cafes and people-watching or gazing out the car window. “It’s very interesting to live with someone who doesn’t think something should be anything other than it is,” Paul muses.
Fatma
Fatima is prolific, her work made with an excitable flick of the wrist across the surface from left to right, creating orderly rows. She’ll announce ‘pink!’ or ‘red!’ or ‘blue!’ at the end of each line, achieving very distinct moods through colour.
Loane
Loane, who is blind, makes her mark in a rhythmic, repetitive and vertical way, guided by how the mediums feel to the touch.
Loane makes work with spirit, energy, and joy. She generally builds images over long periods of time, overlapping layers of rhythmic, repetitive marks in pastel or paint, often using blu-tac attached to the surface to guide her hand and as an aid to composition.
Loane incorporates sensory elements into her pieces, such as scented materials like incense, spices and dried herbs in her drawings.
Chantel
Chantel works with joy and excitement to create her signature abstracts. Her mark is vigorous, full of energy, joy and strength, often circular in motion, her laughter echoing through the forms we see.
Anna
Anna’s work explores collage, composition and motif, with triangles, grids, structures and spiky objects populating her pieces.
Michaela
Micheala’s line is delicate, flowing, dancing, suggestive of a wandering path.
Michaela is a professional DJ and social butterfly. She is also interested in fashion. She loves bright colours and striking abstract art. As well as developing new skills and creating colourful pieces.
Shine
Shine’s work focuses on decoration, pattern and colour. His pieces always start at a point on the page and grow outwards, and explore a wide range of mark making along the way. He’s especially drawn to high key, intense colours, such neons, pinks and yellows.
Hanni
Hanni often paints directly with her hands, though also uses brushes, combs, and pallet knives to flick and scratch paint around the surface.
120 × 100cm
Acrylic on canvas