Wallmatter & Rustmatter
Welcome all to my next solo exhibition.
Wallmatter & Rustmatter.
Open Friday August - Ends Sunday 1st September.
Wallmatter & Rustmatter is an idea that began in 2016. At the time, I was thinking back to some demolished high rise buildings I had seen in Paris that year. Remembering the massive piles of concrete, metal, tangled with torn clothing everywhere. All amongst graffiti and hand painted signs, protesting the demolition of the homes of the needy.
I was also playing around with paint, concrete and rusted textiles. I wanted to make work with lots of texture and rust with opposing materials. I liked the hard, rawness of concrete with the flow of paint and the softness, and flexibility of textiles. I did lots of experiments and made a few paintings with concrete, shellac and paint. Then one thing led to another. I made some concrete sculptures embedded with vintage textiles & found objects and a series of rusted books.
Wallmatter paintings are the main body of the work in this exhibition. A series of highly textured abstract paintings.
Surfaces and objects touched by time tell a story and are a raw reflection of their environment. I want to highlight the significance of a random mark, or the crumbling texture of a wall in an underground space. They are evidence to a previous time in history. My abstractions are investigations into marks and traces left behind in urban and rural environments.
About Rustmatter limited edition artist books.
Many of my artworks are inspired by rust, decay and the beauty found in the imperfections of everyday objects. In this exhibition, along with paintings, I have included a series of artist books, incorporating rusted vintage tins.
My process involved constructing paper books, hand stitching on vintage textiles, rusting papers, finding antique and vintage objects and mark making to tell my story.
Paris's, underground spaces and the Australian outback have heavily influenced my books.
Flying back home to Australia from France, I was mesmerised by the aerial views below me. A tapestry of rich rusted, ochres of the earth and weaving tracks, against the deep blues of the open skies. Back in the studio I created a series of little rust and indigo artist books inside vintage cigar tins.
Each little book links to the contrasts and imperfections, found in the Australian landscape and underground spaces in Paris France. Highlighting, insignificant marks and weathered surfaces.
“Through my unique vision, I hope to share my love for the overlooked and imperfect in this the world."
Jenny Davis