 Twilight no.2, 2005 Oil on canvas, 74 x 60 cms Louise Brierley firstsite is delighted to present the first major UK solo exhibition of paintings by internationally emerging artist Louise Brierley. Comprising a range of works the exhibition juxtaposes Brierley's already acclaimed dark, yet playful, series "Naughty Puppies" with previously unseen works. Introduced at John Moores Exhibition of Contemporary Painting and shown as part of the East End Academy, "Naughty Puppies" evolved from the artist's walks with her dogs on Hackney Marshes. A no-man's land on the periphery of London, here country and concrete meet. This unnatural merging of two worlds has proved inspirational for Brierley. As she describes: "Marginal spaces in nature throw up their own particular inhabitants, this dead urban place seemed to give rise to a mythical quality, the realm of these shadowy, subversive creatures. I wanted to feel as if you'd just come across them as they privately act out an anarchic madness in the midst of their mundane, still surroundings". An unsettling collection of paintings, "Naughty Puppies" will be united for the first, and sadly the last, time. Eerie, cold and surprising, the works challenge viewers through an uncanny use of the animal world to explore human ritual and behaviour. However, Brierley's softness of style and palette induces an ethereality in stark contrast to the narratives of debauchery she suggests: these are childlike, storybook-style illustrations are of adult content. At firstsite the "Naughty Puppies" series will be contextualised with a body of older landscapes and complemented with fresh, larger canvases straight from her studio. The new work goes beyond the world inhabited by the naughty puppies, developing and introducing new characters, settings and narratives. Brierley creates a surreal, yet strangely familiar world that exists entirely on canvas. Apocalyptic, even prophetic, the presentation of these images is undoubtedly timely. Louise Brierley studied at Manchester Polytechnic before completing an MA in illustration at the Royal College of Art. She lives and works in London. Forthcoming exhibitions include a solo exhibition at The Arts Centre, St Petersberg, Florida, USA (2005). Recent exhibitions include: John Moores 23, Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool (2004), East End Academy, Whitechapel Art Gallery, London (2004) and Space Gallery Launch, London (2003). Exhibition: 30 April - 11 June 2005 Opening hours: Mon-Sat 10 am - 5 pm including bank holidays firstsite @ the minories art gallery 74 High Street GB-Colchester, Essex CO1 1UE Telephone +44 01 206 577 067 Fax +44 01 206 577 161 Email info@firstsite.uk.net www.firstsite.uk.net www.likeyou.com/louisebrierley |
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