Artist: Shirley X.
Curatorial Rationale
Shirley X.
My exhibition explores themes of one’s own identity, mind and perspectives on growing up, based on nostalgic reflection. Initially, my work focused on personal experiences with this theme, specifically grappling with my sense of identity in this liminal phase of my life. I felt that personal vulnerability plays an important part in the message I’m trying to convey throughout my exhibition. Not only do I think my works call for intimacy with the viewer, they also experience my perspective on reality through these artworks.
I amplify my understanding with connections to the past and present through the lens of my own perspective and experiences. Using characteristics of different media from acrylic painting, graphite and oil, I was able to connect with my identity. These artworks document emotional and physical growth, whereby a strong mind allows me to connect with the world itself.
Through the first stage of this exhibition, the viewer sees “Angels and Demons” representing my perspective on today’s world as an artist. This conveys a strong difference between how negativity can affect a person’s emotional growth and willingness to grow as a person. This work explores time in a subjective way. In the second piece, the viewer begins to notice a more distorted look of the world with “The Big Tree”. The placement of the fragmented photos represents a distorted point of view. This distortion continues in “The Leaning Focus”. Hence, this art piece allows the viewer to acknowledge distortion as a common theme in my exhibition. Next the viewer explores the paintings: “Dizzy Skies” and “City Night Lights”. The viewer is exposed to a series of locations, special to my childhood memories. This reveals how I like to be close to nature and to explore the world around me as a child. I would always go on walks in forests as it was peaceful for me. The photograph gives an insight into meaningful life moments, as the tree I would decorate every Christmas holiday. The other landscape paintings show the beauty behind the mountain scenery and its diverse range of colours depending on the time of the year. The intention here is capturing the lighting and objects that surround us in our daily lives and how nature can bring happiness to our lives.
There is no clear linear path for the viewer in observing my works. They are curated in different perspectives that possibly could trigger a memory of their own. Rather, the autonomy is theirs, hopefully instilling and triggering a sense of liberating freedom to explore this world in their own way and through their own thoughts. My exhibition aims to evoke the viewer's personal experiences as they experience my art. The display of my artworks is designed to flood the viewer’s eyes and minds, to give their senses imagery to explore in today’s world.
Angels and Demons
February 2021
Acrylic paint on canvas
76.2 x 101.6 cm
Angels and Demons, is a large-scale painting inspired by both Georgia O’Keefe and Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino. This artwork expresses how negativity is cruel to this world and how we need to stop it. The left side of the composition represents the positive side of the world and how we are trying to destroy the negative dark side. When we think of bright colours, we think of positivity for example; the colour yellow screams happiness in my opinion.
The Big Tree
November 2020
Photography
50.8 x 76.2 cm
"The Big Tree" is a photo-joiner inspired by David Hockney that is composed of over 30 photographs. The fragmented photographs manage to create a realistic look of the tree giving a different perspective. This artwork gives a calming sense of nature as well as for myself, this has a deep meaning for me and my childhood. I would call this my tree as this is right outside my window as well as the tree I decorate for family traditions and the tree I'm in charge of.
The Leaning Focus
March 2021
Watercolour & Fine Liner
27.94 x 35.56 cm
Inspired by Thomas Girtin, The Leaning Focus is to mainly draw attention to the tower and the cool building here in Rome, Italy. The world changed and how we think about certain things changed by staying home all day and quarantining. Instead of focusing on the negative sides of the pandemic and the world, quarantining for this long really made us realize that we cannot take anything for granted as now we are unable to travel and explore. The place that I went to, reflected in this work of art would be Rome, Italy which is why I picked the place for my own art-piece.
Dizzy Skys
October 2021
Oil paint on canvas
30.48 x 22.86 cm
Dizzy Skys, inspired by Edward Hopper and Clyfford Still's style of art. In this painting, it gives off a feeling or a sense of isolation as pre-covid we were supposed to quarantine as it was getting worse at the time. Recreating silent moments and feelings into this piece represents how we all felt during our time during the pandemic.
City Night Lights
November 2021
Acrylic paint on canvas
27.94 x 22.86 cm
Inspired by Randy Honerlah, City Night Lights is about the view and moments you see out there in life. Sometimes, taking a step back and looking at the view in front of you takes back all the stress and removes you from the world around us. Taking a small moment to reflect back on your life by looking at lights in the nighttime is stress free and relaxing.
Collection of Necessities
October 2020
Graphite on paper
27.94 x 35.56 cm
Inspired by Jim Golden, my artwork Collection of Necessities, is more of a realistic drawing of the collection of objects that are meaningful or useful to me. The graphite depicts a more in depth perspective of nostalgia as these objects have been useful for me for years.
Women in Blue
February 2022
Acrylic paint on canvas
27.94 x 22.86 cm
Inspired by Martina Shapiro, Women in Blue is a very dramatic, intense and abstract portrait of a woman's eyes in blue. Seen in the painting, she gives off a more meditative expression. Inspired by Martina Shapiro in use of abstract portraits as well as new, bright colours, presents an emotional new feeling in the artwork. The painting features mainly unblended colours and thick lines, which are all prominent and visible in Fauvism art.
Northern Lights
February 2022
Acrylic paint
41cm x 51cm
Inspired by Albert Bierstadt, Northern Lights depicts an exploration of blue and green lights shining back on the lake. This expresses my way in conveying different scenery landscapes in a more real life perspective, depicting what you’d see when you hope to see the Northern Lights.