 Martin Westwood Hard Pressed Flowers Following on from "Blind Eyes Turning", an installation of paintings and drawings in 1999 and "A Seed Is a Stone", an installation of papier-mâché balloons in 2001, Westwood presents "Hard Pressed Flowers", a series of seven framed works on paper and pin board. Westwood's familiar imagery is still apparent. Hands exchanging cards in transactions, businessmen and women relaxing and symbols of hierarchy in the work place. Bittersweet images that are suspended between situations of work and leisure, commerce and romance. In this new body of work, Westwood utilises an array of materials and techniques such as Financial Times newsprint, which is intricately cut and built up in layers. The cuts are also used as stencils for delicately sprayed paint onto paper that is held in place by coloured pins pushed into notice board to beautiful effect. Westwood has previously made his own frames from chipboard and pulped paper but the new body of pictures are framed in a more traditional walnut, however, the backside of the glass becomes part of the works by the artist applying repeated cut-out vinyl shapes referencing vinyl cut logos on shop windows. Continuous obsessions with work, leisure and commerce along with an interest in visual imagery made in, and for, social environments; traditional festive decorations; schools and workshops are all evident. A woman blows at a blackened dandelion releasing seeds in the form of management hierarchy structures, a suited man passes a pen and credit card to his own reflection amidst a maze of cog-like flower motifs, a young businessman in suit and tie thoughtfully prints sycamore leaves onto a glass tabletop and a sales assistant and a customer exchange a lingering stare. In one work, "Watermarks", Westwood has designed his own invoice sheets complete with logo and printed imagery. A cut out figure emerges from a grid of pink and white sheets containing ghostly images of leisure, work and aspiration. Westwood has recently had a one man show at The Project Arts Centre, Dublin, where he showed the installation "fatfinger (HAITCH . KAY . EKS.)". A catalogue is available from The Approach. 11 September - 20 October, 2003 Hours: Wed-Sun 12 - 6 pm and by appointment The approach 47 Approach Road GB-London E29LY Telefon +44 020 8983 3878 Fax +44 020 8983 3919 www.theapproachgallery.co.uk |
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