'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.

Freedom to create

It all seems to be making a lot more sense to me. The urgent need to create being fulfilled at present with the freedom, time and space to make work as and when I want/need to. I no longer have to time the making of work around other things, in fact I time everything else around making work now. It is giving me the chance to really explore creating work and I am constantly finding ways of visualising how I feel.

I am using materials I find around my here in Cyprus which include cactus spikes and leather and I am collecting everything that is dead and no longer considered beautiful.

In an attempt to create something beautifully appalling to reflect the fragility of life, our inevitable fate trying to question the importance of surface image, beauty and youth when all around and we are dying. This control over our image, our bodies, our politicised vessels keeps us from making changes that would make the world right.

And yet all I do is continue making work about it, is that enough? Will this make changes? Aren't I simply posing questions rather than offering answers? Like this blog, questions. I don't have the answer so the work reflects a/my situation and asks of you to change it or to simply think about it.