Though stylistically diverse, both series share an inherent wit and sensitivity to the human condition and the world we inhabit, often interwoven with personal narrative.
Ladders (2023) is a collection of old wooden painter-decorator ladders with painted monochrome panels infilling between the steps. The drips and splashes from their original use imbue the newly painted areas with an added physical, painterly quality. By leaning against the wall, they mimic the fad for repurposing old artefacts, while the shifting hues of the household emulsion colours suggest opportunity, choice and comfort.
In contrast, Roosters, (2023) is a series of antique boxing photographs, housed in ornate antique portrait frames, that have been digitally manipulated to leave only one boxer in the ring, seemingly defending themselves from an invisible, or perhaps internal, foe.
Is the sense of displacement so obvious in Roosters the reason we search for traces of comfort or sanctuary within the Ladders? Paired together, these distinct bodies of work can hint towards the antagonistic forces at play within our lives.
Golden Family: Harbours press release
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