16/9/2005
Alison Turnbull
ArtSway, Sway
Resident artist. This exhibition brings together paintings from artist's recent series, 'World in a Chamber' (2005), a pictorial investigation into the idea of the botanic garden, and new work developed both during the residency and subsequently.
ArtSway is pleased to announce an exhibition of new paintings by Alison
Turnbull, who was artist in residence at ArtSway in May and June of
this year. This exhibition brings together paintings from her recent
series, World in a Chamber (2005), a pictorial investigation into the
idea of the botanic garden, and new work developed both during the
residency and subsequently.
For some years, Turnbull’s work has dealt with the varied ways in which
we conceive and transform the spaces we inhabit, fusing the
representational with the abstract. Previous exhibitions, such as
Houses into Flats (2001) and Hospital (2003) have consisted of
paintings that take the language of architectural representation -
plans, sections and elevations - as generative starting points. These
found drawings are then transformed by colour and by the very specific
physical activities that activate the painted surface.
In 2002 Turnbull had a Fine Arts Scholarship at the British School in
Rome, where she became intrigued by the city’s botanic garden. This led
to research into what the artist describes as ‘╔architecture as applied
to gardens’. In the process Turnbull travelled to botanical gardens in
five European cities: Padua, Leiden, Paris, Uppsala and Oxford and
examined how plant collections are organised, and how this organisation
is dependent on drawing and other forms of coding. The work that
resulted was shown in Oxford as World in a Chamber. The series now
culminates in a painting that takes its inspiration from the artist’s
visits to Ventnor Botanic Garden on the Isle of Wight, during her
residency at ArtSway. Derived from two found drawings of the site -
one, a guide to the present day garden, overlaid onto the other, a plan
of the 19th Century hospital that previously occupied the site ą the
painting incorporates lines and blocks of luminous colour floated on a
neutral ground, anchored by fine lines of graphite.
For her exhibition at ArtSway Turnbull will also be showing Black
Borders ą a new series of works on paper. At the botanic garden in
Oxford there is a planting scheme, known as the ‘black borders’, that
contains exclusively black ą or almost black ą plants. Turnbull takes
the notion of the black border as the ludic point of departure for a
group of meticulous and intensely worked drawings.
Alison Turnbull was born in Bogota, Columbia and studied in Spain and
Britain. Recent exhibitions include Houses into Flats (Milton Keynes
Gallery 2000; Cube, Manchester 2001 and Modern Art Oxford 2001),
Hospital (Matt’s Gallery 2003), World in a Chamber (Said Business
School, University of Oxford 2004) commissioned by the Ruskin School of
Drawing and Fine Art, University of Oxford and the University of Oxford
Botanic Garden, and Black Borders (Galeria Magda Bellotti, Madrid
2005). In 2002 Turnbull undertook a Fine Arts Scholarship at the
British School in Rome. Her book The Family Beds was published by the
University of Oxford earlier this year. She lives and works in London
and is represented by Matt’s Gallery, London. Alison Turnbull will be
in conversation with author Philip Hoare on Saturday 8 October at 2pm
at ArtSway.
Editor’s Note: ArtSway is the contemporary visual arts centre in the
New Forest facilitating the development of new works by artists and
offering creative opportunities for audiences.
Exhibition Events:
Saturday 8 October 2005 at 2pm: Alison Turnbull will be in conversation
with author Philip Hoare, who has written critical texts about her work
and recently published England’s Lost Eden about the New Forest (Fouth
Estate 2005). FREE
Wednesday 12 October 2005, 7 - 9pm: An informal social evening for
visually impaired audiences. Alison Turnbull and art consultant Les
Buckingham will discuss how the visually impaired can enjoy art. Raised
images, Braille text and other interprtive materials will be available.
Supported by the Community Fellowship at Southampton University. FREE
Saturday 15 October 2005, 10.30am - 11.30am: Little Dragons workshop
for pre-school children aged 3-5 years old and their parents or carers.
COST: £4 per child
Saturday 15 October 2005, 11am - 5pm: The Autumn Garden drawing
workshop for adults taking place in Exbury Gardens and inspired by the
works of Alison Turnbull. Part of The Big Draw. COST: £30
Sunday 16 October 2005, 11am - 3pm: Drawing Power! workshop for
children aged 5-11 years old. Part of The Big Draw. COST: £10
Reception for the artist: Saturday 17 September 2005, 2 - 4pm
Adelina Jedrzejczak
Audience Development & Marketing Officer
adelina@artsway.org.uk
ArtSway
Station Road
Sway
Hampshire SO41 6BA
ArtSway is open Tuesday - Sunday 11am - 5pm. Admission Free