Stanley and Audrey Burton Gallery
A Review
Lily Ackroyd-Willoughby |
Júlia Moscardó i Chàfer |
Chloe Burdett |
Ben Eggleton |
Recently I stumbled
across an exhibition in the Stanley and Audrey Burton Gallery, comprising of
finalists’ work for the FAUM Art Prize, organised “in recognition of the high
level of excellence of Art students at the University of Leeds”. The four
artists; Lily Ackroyd-Willoughby , Chloe Burdett, Ben Eggleton and Júlia
Moscardó
i Chàfer
were expertly selected by the panel of judges based on their undergraduate
shows in June 2014. All artists specialised in different mediums, all with a
distinctly different theme.
As you enter the
gallery you are greeted with an array of works that span historically over the
centuries, there Is almost too many to fit on the walls. It is a rich and diverse
collection lit beautifully by lights that mimic daylight outside, which makes
it a very pleasing, positive space to contemplate in. At the far right of the
gallery was the FAUM exhibition, and you are immediately greeted by the huge
wall mural by Lily Ackroyd-Willoughby “Speedy Materials”. Her work is riddled
with juxtaposition- the urgent marks made on the wall are actually made of MDF
and painted to mimic wood grain, and it appears elevated from the wall, as if
floating- bringing 2D into 3D. The viewer faces ocular confusion- especially
with the piece “Stone Carved Nikes” – possibly a nod to consumerism and
marketing controlling our own freedom as individuals- weighed down by
materialistic tendencies.
Moving on, a wall of
six oil paintings by Júlia Moscardó i Chàfer transport you into a hazy
dreamlike world, exploring themes of the mundane, sleep deprivation, and
depression. The neutral colours and soft brush strokes are reflective of a
world where you are absent from the present situation. My favourite “the
laundry” communicates a tiredness through the position of the figure, and the
painting style works well in depicting crumpled fabric.
Chloe Burdett is completely different in the way that she
chooses to depict real life rather than create a deeper narrative, the view can
watch a video comprised of CCTV from club nights in Leeds. Alongside this piece
she has made a book of interviews
with staff who work
at these venues in order to create awareness of those behind the scenes, who
share their stories and experiences, the result was shocking and enraging.
Finally, we arrive at the
glistening sculptures of Ben Eggleton. “Immurement”
is a sculptural installation of three slumped figures made of stainless steel
squares resting upon old upholstered chairs. The figures are shrouded in a
dazzling cloak of metal, slumped and possibly cocooned. Personally, I
interpreted the work as a comment on the treatment of elderly in care-homes, as
the figures appear old and tired, the chairs dirty and worn suggesting neglect.
The Central figure has parts of it’s shell breaking away, leaving void space
underneath as if decaying. This is by far my favourite piece as I found it very
poignant, something I would like my own work to be. It is evident why Ben won
the FAUM Art prize.
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