Water Works

Getting 'into the flow' and working on my new series 'Water Works' which you can view on cathrynmcewen.com. After a successful exhibition at Gallery Aloft in Sydney Australia earlier this year, this series is a return to my interest in body language. This new series was begun and exhibited at the Ondarte Artist Residency in Akumal Mexico, where I was invited in July to be included in their first group of artists. 'Water Works' as a series deals with figures in water and is a continuation of my interest in body language, emotion and narrative. My intention is to extend the concept of a portrayal of a figure using the water to express something more about them through reflection or the surface qualities; an alter ego, a deeper emotion, a secret desire, or a darker side of the person involved. I am also busy looking for gallery representation around the globe on the back of the work I have achieved this year!

Ondarte International Residency Exhibition July 23 2011

I've only been here at the Ondarte Artist Residency in Akumal on the Mayan Riviera of Mexico for 2 weeks and have already completed 3 paintings. Love it here and I'm looking forward to another month with a new group and more painting!
The residency is holding an open house for us on the 23rd of July and because we are the first group of artists, everyone is talking about the event and coming from far and wide! Thank you for the exposure Ondarte, and for the opportunity to be here! I know this place is destined to be one of the best as it is already world class in my book!
My latest work explores figures with the dualities of their ‘potential’ hidden psyches incorporated through the use of distorted reflections in water and through the use of shadows. I am interested in the idea of expressing an alter ego within a figurative representation, perhaps to reveal an underlying ‘darker’ side, or a hidden trait or association, or even a truer ‘self’.

The Glass Menagerie

Week 3 MIRA Artist Residency Martignano Italy
…and so I listened to my heart – looking for some truth and connection to what I was exploring with the Roman glass as a subject (see my previous blog “home is where the art is”). I worked through all sorts of imagery and textural qualities in an attempt to capture the essence of history and contrast of materials (glass and stone/earth). Venturing around the area helped me connect more with history, colours, and textures – especially a trip to Otranto, and the Puglanese stone of the city walls and architecture. Upon returning to the studio, I tried to add this into the paintings, with some success.

The paintings still have my 'stamp' (style) and interesting cropping but there seems to be something missing – that certain personal emotional connection that I get with my other work. There is no point for me in doing these paintings if they are only just colour and texture. This is when I trusted that it would solve itself. I shouldn’t think about it too much – just let the natural process of exploration happen…

Trying to instill emotion into inanimate objects is difficult enough and something I recalled that Matisse had written when I saw his work in Nice,

“(the object) only says what one makes it say” XXe siecle #2 Janvier 1952

encouraged me to keep up the challenge. Then one morning it struck me – these objects don’t have to be still – I can give them a life, and retain a connection to my previous work through movement!

But the objects themselves are so removed from the museum settings that now they seem to have lost the characteristics of ancient Roman glass pieces that I was seduced by on the first place. Does it matter??

No .

Now they have become something else and taken on a new life – now they have become personal and reflecting my life in many ways – a truth that I didn’t expect, but welcome. A nice realisation and opening up more doors for possibilities… the challenge continues – at least for a while.