Steele’s
work has been occupied for the last few years with
the interrogation of landscape as a means by which
to articulate her own personal iconography.
Her practice consistently utilises a number of
different media but rarely in combination. This
individual focus on each medium, one at a
time, allows Steele to comprehend the essentials of
the subject with additional clarity. Sculpture,
printmaking, installation, photography, the written
word and particularly drawing have been
independently and extensively used in this drive
towards resolution. The intellectual
curiosity that underpins Steele’s work is
evident in the fluidity with which she travels
between media, allowing dominance of one media over
another only for so long before re-appropriating
earlier imagery in order to continue the
exploration.
The
work operates on a number of levels. One is
immediately drawn to the quality of Steele's
draughtsmanship – in all media. The subject
matter is seductive. Seemingly hard rock formations
are given a heightened , languid sensuality simply
through Steele's use of graphite pencil. Vivacious
painted works, derived ostensibly from foliage and
flora are simplified to their essence – their
shape, their coloration. Soft recumbent sculptures,
visually referencing flint and stone that is
heavy and idle with rest yet hard and unmalleable
to the touch, play also with the language of the
human body. It is through this psychological and
physical deconstruction and reassembling process
that Steele seeks to realise a new multipartite
whole. The execution of her work, the solitary and
tender forms and bombastic and colourful markmaking
reflects a deeply personal process.
Chloë Steele at Collyer Bristow Gallery
SPECIAL ONE DAY ONLY OPENING
Saturday 21 June 2008
12 – 5 pm
Collyer Bristow Gallery, Collyer Bristow LLP,
4 Bedford Row,
London WC1R 4DF
Nearest tubes: Holborn /Russell Square
SPECIAL ONE DAY ONLY OPENING
Saturday 21 June 2008
12 – 5 pm
Collyer Bristow Gallery, Collyer Bristow LLP,
4 Bedford Row,
London WC1R 4DF
Nearest tubes: Holborn /Russell Square