Inspired by the ceremonial animal costumes and blood-letting rituals of the ancient Mayans the artist explores themes of slapstick, storytelling and sex. The gallery is also transformed with a large-scale wall drawing which strangely and wryly comments, in large letters and adds another layer of narrative to the exhibition.
Deeley has a reputation for her strong colour combinations and creating labour intensive works, which manage to simultaneously innocently delight, and subversively repel.
Frozen sculptural moments of sacred rituals between man and animal which are half invented, half based in historical fact, and delicate, savage drawings and paintings, which places the artist herself inside the narrative, with various characters from this ethereal and primitive landscape.
Inspired by the ceremonial animal costumes and blood-letting rituals of the ancient Mayans she explores themes of slapstick, storytelling and sex. The gallery will be also transformed with a large-scale wall drawing which strangely and wryly comments, in large letters, on her presented work, and adds another layer of narrative to the exhibition.
Specially commissioned for this exhibition is an accompanying soundtrack of compositions reacting to the works, form avant-garde Italian musician, Simone Salvatici.
Deeley is a New Zealander who has lived and worked in London since 2004.Her previous exhibition at Terrace Gallery, in May 2007, was called “charming and intriguing”, and “ sexual and unsavoury” by Helen Sumpter in TimeOut Magazine, probing into areas of “folklore, folk art and fantasy”. She has also gained attention for her stunning artwork for the band, The Datsuns.
She is represented in New Zealand by 64zero3 Contemporary Art, and has had exhibitions in the Dunedin Public Art Gallery in 2006, Te Tuhi- The Mark in 2006, dreambagsjaguarshoes in 2004, Westspace Melbourne in 2003, and has been included as a finalist in New Zealand contemporary art prizes, The Wallace, and The Waikato, in 2001 and 2002.
Private View: Thursday 10th January 6pm - 9pm
Gallery Primo Alonso
395-7 Hackney Road - London
Open Thursday until Sunday 11am - 6pm or by appointment
Free admission