13/4/2007
Rik Pinkcombe
ArtSway, Sway
Pinkcombe has produced a new body of work investigating the concept of a border between the US and Mexico. This new work both develops and complements his work exploring the border between the US and Canada, made whilst in residency at Light Work in Syracuse, New York in 2005.
BorderLine
ArtSway is pleased to announce BorderLine, an exhibition of new work by Rik Pinkcombe, a London-
based photographer who has been commissioned by ArtSway and Autograph ABP. For his exhibition
at ArtSway Pinkcombe has produced a new body of work investigating the concept of a border
between the US and Mexico. This new work both develops and complements his work exploring the
border between the US and Canada, made whilst in residency at Light Work in Syracuse, New York
in 2005.
Rik Pinkcombe’s work engages with the concept that contemporary existence in the developed world
is saturated by a de-personalised, profit-driven media, affecting our identity and distorting our view of
the world around us. Pinkcombe’s manipulation and distortion of the visual field in his photography,
causing some of his images to look like architectural models or theatrical stage-sets, signifies a
misreading of global, personal and political landscapes. The images are captured in great detail
using a large format camera and then given a heightened air of artificiality by being digitally cleaned
to suggest a ‘man-made’ superficial veneer.
Pinkcombe’s mixed-race background particularly informs his work, leading him to visually question
different perceptions of identity, and how an individual perceives and is perceived. Pinkcombe
considers what it is to be mixed race - quite literally coming from both side of a metaphysical ‘border’
- and the consequences of being perceived or judged as not being from one side or the other. It is
this perception of who we are, where we are from and the difficulty of being classified as a type that
motivated Pinkcombe to produce the body of work BorderLine. Pinkcombe’s work touches upon other
forms of liminal status and classification, however, considering those who straddle the borderlines of
poverty, exploitation, class, power and migration.
Rik Pinkcombe will be in conversation with David A. Bailey, Senior Curator, Autograph ABP and
Peter Bonnell, Exhibitions Officer at ArtSway on Saturday 14 April 2007, 3pm at ArtSway.
Biography
Rik Pinkcombe received a degree in Design Photography at Lancaster University, during which time
he garnered two national awards from the Association of Photographers. He was awarded again
from the same body during his early career as a commercial photographer. During his first year
at university Pinkcombe battled for almost a year against leukaemia, and was strongly influenced
by this experience. Pinkcombe has been supported for a number of years by Autograph ABP, and
recently completed a Light Work residency in Syracuse, New York in the United States. He also
exhibited work made during his residency at the Robert B Menschel Media Centre in Syracuse, the
Stephen Lawrence Gallery in Greenwich, London and in a group show at Bargehouse Gallery, Oxo
Tower Wharf, London. Rik Pinkcombe lives and works in London.
ArtSway is a unique place in the UK’s New Forest to see, discuss, make and engage with significant
contemporary visual art from the local to the international. A purpose-built and architecturally
important gallery space hosts a changing programme of exhibitions and wide ranging creative
opportunities for all.
Exhibition Related-Events
Gallery Talk: Saturday 14 April, 3pm
Rik Pinkcombe will be in conversation with David A. Bailey, Senior Curator, Autograph ABP and
Peter Bonnell, Exhibitions Officer, ArtSway, at the opening of this exhibition. Free, Booking
Essential.
Gallery Lecture: Thursday 17 May, 7pm - 9pm
Migration and Contemporary Art Practice
Dr Stephen Morton, University of Southampton, will discuss Rik Pinkombe’s exhibition BorderLine,
discussing migration, critical theory and a selection of artists who have explored the American
borders in their work. Free, Booking Essential
Preview and Reception for the Artist, Saturday 14 April 2pm - 5pm
ArtSway
Station Road, Sway, nr Lymington - Hampshire
ArtSway is open: Tuesday - Sunday 11am - 5pm, Admission is Free