For colchester, this was pretty big news. They are currently exhibiting work from the textile artist Camille Walala and illustrator and graphic artist Hattie Steward. They both have taken inspiration from the work of Andy Warhol, and first site have created a really exciting exhibition.
I really enjoyed the work of Hattie Stewart, who was originally from colchester. It was very striking to walk into- you are surrounded and almost intimidated by the 5 or 6 famous faces repetitively placed from top to bottom around the room. Her work consists of manipulated magazine covers displayed alongside originals. They were created using a technique called lenticular printing, so as the images are viewed from different angles, new information is revealed. This give the work different qualities and depth.To me, I feel she was getting across the idea that we are constantly surrounded by images of celebrity daily.
This is really relevant to the fashion industry. With social media and the addictive lifestyles we now all lead, we are constantly able to spy on celebrities lives, and are constantly bombarded with imagery and stories. It often shames celebrities, and with this generation constantly on social media, its hard not to be influenced by it. It was a really thought provoking exhibition with a deeper meaning- to me Stewart was getting across the damaging effects of celebrity endorsement.
Andy Warhol’s work was wonderful to see in person. The bold, striking pop art pieces were eye catching, and on a large scale. There was something eerie about his pieces, often using repetition as key to suggest an underlying political reference. The electric chair screen print was what I was drawn to. The way he had used the photo and printed over the top with colours that do not fit the mood made me feel uneasy, as if he was trying to make light of a serious issue.
I found this exhibition relatable and engaging, and was really successful. It is promising to have such wonderful artwork at such a local gallery.
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