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Flesh Drawing 11. Ink on Paper. 19cm x 13.5cm
Flesh Drawing 11. Ink on Paper. 19cm x 13.5cm
Flesh Drawing 16. Ink on Paper. 19cm x 13.5cm
Flesh Drawing 16. Ink on Paper. 19cm x 13.5cm
Flesh Drawing 17. Ink on Paper. 19cm x 13.5cm
Flesh Drawing 17. Ink on Paper. 19cm x 13.5cm
Flesh Drawing 19. Ink on Paper. 19cm x 13.5cm
Flesh Drawing 19. Ink on Paper. 19cm x 13.5cm
Flesh Drawing 20. Ink on Paper. 84cm x 60cm
Flesh Drawing 20. Ink on Paper. 84cm x 60cm
Flesh Drawing 21. Ink on Paper. 84cm x 60cm
Flesh Drawing 21. Ink on Paper. 84cm x 60cm

Rebecca Strain

Fine Artist

Artist Statement

In ‘Vile Bodies: Photography and the Crisis of Looking’ Chris Townsend describes the body as ‘the limit of the human subject in space’. Both container and contained, there are many taboos concerned with opening the body and revealing the abjection that lies within. Julia Kristeva identifies in ‘Powers of Horror’ how this exposed interior becomes unstable and repulsive, highlighting our mortality and just how unreliable, fragile and out of control the human body is. The exposed inner features of the body threaten to occupy space they shouldn’t, disrupting the identity and stability of the human form, whilst evoking feelings of fear and terror.

The exploration of flesh, central to the emerging practise, led to working directly from cadavers at Leeds General Infirmary. Rebecca’s main practise explores the visceral areas of the body through colours generally unassociated with the human form, such as bruised purples, greens and cold blues. Taking the viewer into the body these agitated colours soak and bleed across the paintings. However, the line drawings aim to question the little control we have over our own bodies. A juxtaposition is created between the precision and control the drawings require, and the abject and unreliable nature of the human body. 

 Upcoming/ Current Exhibitions

Sept - Oct - Art in Mind, The Brick Lane Gallery, Shoreditch, London

Aug - Sept - Comuniart Art Crawl, The Macbeth, Shoreditch, London

Previous Exhibitions

July - Aug 2011 - Brent Salon des Arts, The Gallery at Willesden Green, London

July 2011 - Parallax AF, La Galleria, London

Feb 2011 - Desire and Repulsion: Grotesqueries, The Art Corner, Manchester

Jan 2011 - International Postcard Exchange 2011, Surface Gallery, Nottingham

Nov 2010 – Jan 2011 - Off the Shelf, Saltburn Artist’s Projects, Saltburn by the Sea

Oct – Dec 2010 - International Contemporary Art, Arisu Creative Arts, arisucreativearts.com

Sept 2010 - The Crocus Open Show, The Crocus Gallery, Nottingham

June 2010 - Leeds Metropolitan University Arts Festival, Leeds Metropolitan University

May 2009 - Skin Deep (Solo Exhibition), Leeds Metropolitan University

 May 2007 - Foundation Exhibition, University of Gloucester

Education

2007-2010 - BA (Hons) Fine Art – Leeds Metropolitan University (2.1)

2006-2007 - Foundation Diploma Art and Design- University of Gloucester (Merit)

Locations and categories

Location All > United Kingdom > London > London Postcode SW
Categories None

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