Mantel

"The exhibition centres around the mantelpiece - a familiar domestic structure which, other than for practical reasons, is used for the display of objects, images and memories with a commonality of collection and presentation. I’m very drawn to the occurrences in mantelpieces - the zoned contrasts/comparisons between the presented objects in shape, form, texture and history (etc.). Mantelpieces are talking points for visitors that consist of: heirlooms, cards/ invites, relics, portraits of newly born relatives, portraits of past relations, pottery, vases, flowers, candles, tinsel (seasonal) and so on… In this way, I’m proposing to display the work of artists, which in the majority of cases come from solo exhibitions - their own contexts/ histories/ narratives/ techniques/ materials/ processes/ etc. - and reshown in a shared context. Possibly not dissimilar to having a keepsake from a trip on holiday, whereby there is a further reading of the work.

The mantelpiece is therefore the context for the show, and mode of display, which will be produced and designed by James Jessiman; an artist creating work that straddles design, function, furniture and art." - Doug Bowen, curator.

This exhibition took place at Copperfield Gallery, organized by Cactus Gallery, Liverpool and curated by Doug Bowen.

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