ROSALIND DAVIS
COPYRIGHT © 2011 CHANTELLE PURCELL For information please contact: Chantelle May Purcell chantelle_may@hotmail.co.uk Or Rosalind Davis Image on the cover: Recover, from ‘After the Storm Series’, Oil & mixed media on cotton, 90 x 70 cm
ARTIST STATEMENT
The textiles not only provide cultural and historical links to the eras of the buildings but equally emphasize the fragility of the spaces, the people therein and the disconcerting juxtaposition between aesthetics and meaning. “Rosalind’s work combines different strands of a wide ranging English tradition of the Arts, including the arts and crafts movements.
Rosalind Davis’ creates mixed media paintings exploring the power and presence of seemingly barren urban landscapes. Their historical, social and political backgrounds are sutured into architectural dimensions. Rosalind’s stitches and brushstrokes repair and give substance, providing scaffolding to what lies beneath and within structural urban design. The environments she represents are but support structures, as the artist envisions the identities and the human experiences that animate the edifices; ‘I was struck by the richness of her paintings – equally in terms of their spatial compression and otherwordliness, their conceptual meshing of the social and the romantic, the social disused or run-down buildings are mended and/or supported through stitching, as well as being somewhat transformed when their painted surfaces melt into, soak and stain the meticulously printed backdrop.’
Becky Hunter
For the last few years Rosalind has pursued a synthesis of different practices and different. Due to the very nature of embroidery the surface becomes heightened due to the physicality of the stitching and the nature of the objects is inevitably complex. Rosalind Davis is a graduate from the RCA (2005) and Chelsea College of Art (2003) She has exhibited her work nationally and internationally including Salon 08, The Clare Morris Open, the Grieve and Samaritans Art Prize, Fringe MK Painting Prize, The London Art Fair and had solo shows at Julian Hartnoll, John Jones, Deptford X and The Residence Gallery all in London. Davis was commissioned for the first fine art exhibition at The Roundhouse in 2009 which then toured to Brussels to the Theatre Opt De Markt (the International Circus and Theatre Festival). In 2010 Davis was selected for the Ludlow Summer open by Lara Grieve, The Jerwood Foundation and David
Roberts, The Alan Cristea Gallery and has also been selected for the Ing Discerning Eye Exhibition and The UK Young Artists Event as well as having a solo show with Salon Projects. Davis’ blog on Artist’s talking provides a ‘perceptive and illuminating insight into the trials and tribulations artists face’ has received much acclaim, on visual arts directory a-n ( www.a-n.co.uk) winning the accolade of 2009’s blog of the year and selected as choice blogs of the month more than once Davis is a lecturer and creative practitioner; speaking at The Stroud International Textiles Festival, University of The Arts and the London Fringe and teaches at University of the Arts, West Dean College, Phoenix Brighton, The Tower of London and Transport for London amongst others. Rosalind is also gallery manager and in-house curator of Core Gallery, an artist led space in Deptford, London which has a dynamic exhibition and educational programme showcasing international artists and curators. Davis’s works will be on loan to to The Courtald Institute from 2012 to 2014, in the East Wing Biennial Exhibition. www.rosalinddavis.co.uk/ www.coregallery.co.uk
Reclaim, 2011, oil and mixed media on linen, 90 x 70 cm
Rebuild, from ‘After the Storm Series’, 2011, Oil & mixed media on cotton, 90 x 60 cm
“With this inside/outside view of buildings, Rosalind almost supersedes the buildings themselves with the materials that could be seen on the inside. I have often seen this with demolished buildings, a set of fireplaces against the wall of the neighbouring building, remnants of wallpaper all that is left of a place that was a home.” Julia Alvarez, June 2010
Ardwick, Manchester, Oil and embroidery on cotton, 70 cm x 95 cm
“Rosalind produces sophisticated and purposeful work which creates a tension between embellishments (embroidery) and depiction (painting), sensuality and awkwardness. Modifying the decorative aspects and tradition of embroidery from its original purpose.” Graham Crowley, November 2010
Far right: Lewisham Centre. London, Oil and embroidery on cotton, 65 x 95 cm
Rosalind’s works seem to rise from the depressive position, in which ambivalent encounters with reality are tested, dreams of (Utopian, urban) perfection mourned, and the objects and people we relate to eventually accepted as neither blissfully ideal, nor entirely harmful. Amongst other material clues, these paintings figure that struggle in terms of the stitch, a piercing, destructive action that is reformed, with practice, into the work of mending and strengthening. Becky Hunter, 2010
The Island of 22, Embroidery on damask, 30 x 40 cm
The Watchtower, Embroidery on Damask, 25 x 30 cm
Into the Wild Part I, 2011, Oil and Embroidery and collage on cotton, 30 x 40cm FAR RIGHT: Recover, from ‘ After the Storm Series’, 2011 Oil & mixed media on cotton, 90 x 60 cm
Well Hall Road, Oil and embroidery on cotton , (The Coronet cinema in Eltham, not currently in use) 100 x 120 cm
8,000 Souls. Part II, Oil and embroidery on cotton, 60 x 40 cm (8,000 Souls is the second painting of the Ayelsbury Estate in Elephant and castle. 8,000 people lived here. It is soon to be demolished).
"Davis is an artist of true talent, whose mixed media works show an intuitive and expert use of paint, materials and composition. The houses and buildings in the paintings, often seen from mid-distance and obscured by trees and foliage, hint at unsettling goingson, disasters or subterfuge to come (or are about to occur). " Stephen Beddoe
The Circus Playground, Mixed media, Acrylic, Mixed media, appliquĂŠ on cotton satin, 85 x 65 cm FAR RIGHT: Into the Wild Part IV, 2011, Oil and Embroidery on Cotton, 30x40cm
Education
Group exhibitions
2005 2003
2011 2011 2011 2011 2011 2011 2011 2011 2011 2011 2010 2010 2010 2010 2010 2010
MA, Mixed Media Textiles, Royal College of Arts, BA ( Hons) Textiles, Chelsea College of Art,
CURRENT & FORTHCOMING EXHIBITIONS 2011 2012
Home, (Curating and exhibiting) Core Gallery, c101 Faircharm Trading Estate, London (6th-15th October) East Wing Biennial Exhibition, works shall be on loan to The Courtald Institute from 2012 to 2014
Solo exhibitions 2010 2010 soho 2009 2009 2008 2008 2007
Belong, SouthBank Arts Centre, Bedford College, MK42 9AH A Difference in Vision, 4 Regents Place, Soho, I am Yours, Julian Hartnoll gallery, St James, Piccadilly, London Projection, John Jones, Finsbury Park, London Solace, Milletre, Kensington Mews, London Inheritance, The Stephen Lawrence Centre, Terrace Area, 39 Brookmill rd, Deptford We Were Here Once, The Residence Gallery, East London
Artworks Open, Artworks Project Space, Barbican Arts Group Trust, Blackhorse lane, London, E17 Twisted, Phoenix Brighton Gallery, Brighton Brief Permanence, Artgene, Barrow in Furness Deliverance,, CoExist Arts, The Old Water Works, North road,, Southend on Sea, SS0 7AB In The Current Climate, Core Gallery, Deptford (Darling) You Send Me, Galerie Bigger and Better Space, Vienna Domus Pro Vir, Core Gallery, Deptford, London, SE8 3DX Bite The Hand That Feeds, 41 Bank Chambers, 25 Jermyn Street,, London Stark Projects, Delhi, India The Lynn Painters Stainers Prize, Stainers Hall, Monument, london, touring to W. H. Patterson Gallery, 19 Albemarle Street, London W1S 4BB Relay, Core gallery, Deptford, London, SE8 3DX The Ing Discerning Eye Exhibition, Mall Galleries, Piccadilly, London UK Young Artists Event, Déda, Chapel St,, Derby, DE1 3GU ENGLAND’S GLORY: THE ART OF FOOTBALL, gallery 27, 27 cork street, Mayfair (more info) The Truth Is Rarely Pure and Never Simple, Nolias Gallery, Southwark, London (more info)
2010 Wilderness, Core Gallery, Deptford, London 2010 The Truth Is Rarely Pure and Never Simple, Nolias Gallery, Southwark, London 2010 London Art Fair, with Long and Ryle Gallery, Islington, London 2009 Fraction, Cor Blimey Arts, deptford 2009 Alchemy and open studios for Deptford X, Cor Blimey Arts/Deptford X, deptford 2009 2021, British Art Fair with Long and Ryle Gallery, The Royal College of Art, London 2009 Floorplan, Phoenix Brighton Gallery, Brighton 2009 Remembered Landscapes, Long and Ryle, Pimlico, London 2009 From Light to Dust, The Roundhouse, London 2009 Transience, Shunt, London 2009 Rummage, Cafe Gallery Projects/ Bermondsey Artists Group, Cafe Gallery, Southwark Park, London 2009 Contemporary Art Projects, London Art Fair, London 2008 Start Your Collection, Contemporary Art Projects, London 2008 The Distance Between, Signal Gallery, London 2008 00 Nature, Contemporary Art Projects, 20 Rivington st, London (more info) 2008 DNA at Form London, Olympia Exhibition Centre, London
2008 Salon 08, VINEspace, East London 2007 Clare Morris Open 2007, Various. County Mayo., Ireland 2007 Identity, Bath Fringe Festival, The Old Postal Museum, 8 Broad Street, Bath (more info) 2007 London Art Fair with Long and Ryle Gallery, London, Islington Business Design Centre, London 2006 DiverseRCA, RCA, Kensington Gore, London 2006 Hothouse Open, Hothouse, 274 Richmond Road, London Fields 2006 Straordinary Lines, Rosalind Davis and Peter Davis, Somerset Maugham Gallery, Horsebridge Art Centre, Whitstable 2006 His (and Her) Dark Materials, Rosalind Davis and Paul Maffrett, The Empire Gallery, London, E8 (more info) 2006 The Sefton Open, Atkinson Art Gallery, Lord St, Merseyside 2006 Open Arts Competition, Black Swan Arts, Frome 2005 Hidden Art, The Salt Gallery, Cornwall 2005 Swansea Fringe Festival, Exposure Art Gallery, Swansea 2005 Like Nowhere Else, Royal College of Art, London 2005 Urban Outfitters Graduate Show, Urban Outfitters, South Kensington, London 2005 Hidden Art @SALT, 57 Fore St, Copperhouse, Hayle, Cornwall
Curated projects 2011 Salon Video Prize, Matt Roberts Arts, London 2011 Extra-Ordinary: Marion Michell, Tom Butler and Alyson Helyer, Core Gallery, London 2011 Salon Photo Prize, Matt Roberts Arts, London Artist talks (FORTHCOMING) 2011 DIY Educate: Blogs and Social 2011 Networks, Core Gallery, Deptford 2011 Core Gallery, Core Gallery, Deptford 2011 Show and Tell Artist Talk: Lucy Austin, Core Gallery, Deptford 2011 Show and Tell Artist Talk: Edwina Ashton, Core Gallery, Deptford 2011 DIY Educate: How to sustain your practice as an artist and getting paid, Core Gallery, Deptford 2011 Show and Tell Artist Talk: Freddie Robins, Core Gallery, Deptford 2011 DIY Educate: DIY Exhibitions, Core Gallery, Deptford Artist talks 2011 Surviving After Art School, Hackney
2011 Exchange Project Space, London 2011 DIY Educate: Show and Tell Programme 2011 Core Gallery, Deptford (more info) 2010 Getting Started as a Fine Artist, University of the Arts, London 2010 Professional Practice, London Fringe 2010 Festival, Phoenix Arts Club, Charing Cross road, London 2010 Artists in Dialogue with Graham Crowley, Core Gallery, Deptford, London 2010 Selling at Your Show, ECCA, LCF, University of the Arts, London 2009 HeadSpace, PHOENIX BRIGHTON, brighton 2009 Stroud International Textiles Festival, The 2009 Museum in the Park, Stroud 2008 Artist’s Talk, The Stephen Lawrence Centre, Deptford 2008 Guest Speaker. Professional Development, University of the Arts, London Workshops 2009 The Big Draw. Innovative drawing exercises, The Tower of London, London 2009 Mixed media workshop for teacher inset Training, Royal Boroughs of Kensington and Chelsea, London 2008 Mixed media Workshop; Environment and land scape, The Stephen Lawrence Centre, London
Corporate commissions 2007 Paintings added to Corporate collection, Health Professions Council, London
London 2008 Mixed media Workshop; Environment and landscape, The Stephen Lawrence Centre, Deptford, London
Projects
Educational experience - tertiary
2011 AIR Council Member, http://www.a-n.co.uk/air/, Nationwide
2009 2008
Competitions, prizes and awards 2011 Elected to AIR Council, Nationwide, http://www.a-n.co.uk/air/article/862237/469392 2010 Choice blog of 2009, a-n, Newcastle Educational experience - primary 2009 Mixed media workshop: embroidery and drawing, Brighton Phoenix gallery and Same Sky Arts, Brighton 2009 Exhibition Discussion and Mixed media workshop, The Roundhouse and Castlehaven Community Centre, Camden, London 2007 City Gallery in leeds and creative partnerships matched me to a Primary School In Leeds, City Gallery /Creative Partnerships, Leeds Educational experience - secondary 2009 The Big Draw, The Tower of London, Tower of
Associate Lecturer for BA Fashion and textiles, Ashford School of Art and Design, Ashford, Kent Associate Lecturer. 2008 onwards, Bedford College, Bedford
Web links - gallery/work/projects www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/579530 www.coregallery.co.uk www.rosalinddavis.co.uk Web links - article/press www.a-n.co.uk/interface/reviews/single/556131 bit.ly/Projectionreview An interview with Rosalind Davis on Oh Goodness Greatness www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/579530 www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/article/587497 www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/article/1216515 Core Gallery Interview with Rosalind Davis
Image: Dreamland Welcomes You, 2009, mixed media on vintage scarf, 60 x 60 cms