'read me' group exhibition opens April 12th 2008

'read me' is an exhibition exploring the use of words and text in contemporary art. Misselbrook has two series of works in this exhibition, 'I Dream of a Common Language' 2005 and 'Know Your Place' 2007. The latter created during her recent stay in Cyprus as part of her Post Graduate study.

'I Dream of a Common Language' depicts varying states of female 'ness' using make-up, fat and chocolate struggling to communicate with the viewer. These canvases embody the skeletal, sexual and suffering self - one body moving through each state.




'Know Your Place' presents symmetrical inkblots on pages taken from Faludi's 'Backlash' spoilt by stains of consumption. The artist used this series of works as place-mats on the dinner table during every mealtime for a period of six weeks. The works show the drink ring marks and food debris, heat sealed to preserve them.

Please come along to the Artists Preview on Tuesday 6th May at 7.30pm, the exhibition runs until 21st May at the Havant Arts centre, 56 East Street, Havant, Hampshire, UK, PO9 1BS.

Latest Artist Statement

Socio-cultural concerns about femininity and feminism, about the body, about individual control and consumption within a consumer society - the inspiration for the creation of my work. My work is a way of exorcising something from myself, which is very emotional, maybe troubled. I become a subject who produces that which is visible. It is my silent, non-verbal response.

The artwork plays on traditional sculptural concerns, the process of adding or taking away. However, this is not only achieved using stone or wood but adding chocolate, soap, latex, wax, degradable or even edible materials, underlining the transient state of the body. I believe food is the medium through which we, particularly women are addressed and, in turn; food can become the language of women's response. Obsessive and routine acts of measuring, producing and perfecting envelopes both my creative process and the disciplined quest for an unattainable bodily perfection. Meanwhile, the works degrade as does the body.

The final artworks attempt to present the seductive yet simultaneously repellent nature of human anatomy embodying ways of externalising a very internalised self-analysis of the body personal. The juxtaposition of hard against soft, of sensual against skeletal, of void against object, this is my visual language of a struggle within and of a body.

Httyfat a great success!

With over 5500 visitors to the Paphos harbour based gallery, 'How to Tell Yourself from a Television' was extended until the 10th February to allow for the growing interest in this eclectic exhibition. As one of the artists involved, I was responsible for invigilating which allowed me to witness the amazing public response. Visitor comments were insightful and press coverage extensive. Works were collected by Cypriot visitors and international tourists alike as well as commissions ordered.
Talk about going out on a high! I have since returned to the UK to continue creating work. My stay in Cyprus gave me the time, freedom, space and light to concentrate on looking and responding to my environment. And now I am back in the UK - the light is almost depressing, the traffic, people and consumable things - so many people yet I know no one. I should be here for a few months and then I am on that search again for another place. A place other than this, space. Where is that again?

New exhibition at En Plo gallery, Paphos

You are all invited to attend the opening of 'How to tell yourself from a television' the latest show featuring new works by Sarah Misselbrook and three other international artists; Marcus Cope, Paulina Hortynska and Stephanie Moran.

Click on link below for more information.
Thanks!

httyfat

Marcus Cope has made a life size replica of a 1970 Cadillac Coupe DeVille using papier mache. The car is emblazoned with basketball logos. The idea for the work stemmed from Cope's house being the only one on the street without a car in the driveway. For reasons unknown to him he chose to make the Cadillac which measures almost 6m x 2m x 1.5m, of which he says, 'It was a stupid idea, I wish I'd just made a Mini Cooper. It would have been a lot easier to make a Mini Cooper'.

Paulina Hortynska is exhibiting paintings influenced by travelling which are inspired by things that surround her from nature and the environment. This art represents figurative, abstract and surrealistic styles. The artist adds, 'the most important thing for me is to use my imagination to characterize the atmosphere of an unusual world similar to a fairy tale'.

Sarah Misselbrook's work addresses issues surrounding the body, the feminine and the feminist, drawing on personal, cultural and societal experiences. Her observations of natural life with its beauty, symmetry and perfection as well as its defence, aggression, self-preservation and ageing has provided raw material for her work. Misselbrook adds, 'these works show the polarities of beauty and ugliness, ruining perfection by excessive consumption'.

www.sarahmisselbrook.com

Stephanie Moran is showing paintings from two new series, pictures for two girl bands which exist only in her head (as yet). The first of these is a Riot Grrrl group, 'Sisters of SCUM'; the paintings show imaginary photoshoots based on mythological, fictional and real figures of female revenge. The second is a gothic/experimental band, 'Tallulah and the Vampire Bees', with influences from Mazzy Star, Daisy Chainsaw, the Raincoats and All About Eve. Like most pop songs, the paintings are about love and relationships.

A seriously worthwhile blog

I have only just found www.any-body.org/ on the net and it is the only one I keep going back to. With submissions from people in the fashion industry and comments on body size, image and beauty, it parallels concepts behind my own artwork.

It seems to be getting worse, the portrayed 'ideal' bodies are getting progressively smaller and unhealthy in a society where, if the current trend continues, in 20 years half the population will be considered obese (according to bbc radio one newsbeat).

In an attempt to attain this so called 'ideal' it seems we are failing. This failure leads to further self-loathing and further dieting/ overeating leading to further failure.

What are we doing to ourselves? As discussed on the Any Body blog, certain regulations are being enforced as to the bmi of catwalk models - how is this going to address the underlying issues? I am in no way pretending to have the answer(s) but in an attempt to highlight the absurdity of this situation, my artwork suggests the consequences of a generation of women trapped within the quest for a perfect body.

When one thinks one is in control in fact we are being controlled, we are being reduced, silenced and forced to fit into an ever-decreasing space whereby we lose the strength and power to speak up against anything. Any body tries to address this problem. I am trying to address this problem. The problem is worsening.