Original inspiration point.
Bill Woodrow and Richard Deacon at Roche Court, New Artist Center,
Detail of the work showing the book.
Final installation view of 'I Want To Whisper in Your Ear'
Someone and Something 2014
at Aspex Gallery, Portsmouth.
‘I Want To Whisper In
Your Ear’
Julia Keenan
Mixed Media Installation of Objects and Photographs
Artist Statement
My interests lie in the significance of objects, the readings
and signs that can be taken from them. I enjoy juxtaposing different time periods and cultures together, specifically Religious imagery from the Renaissance
and The Middle Ages with materials from the 21st century.
Although based in sculpture I would call myself more of an
‘object’ maker – within my practice I create ‘things’ which are then
re-invented through a process of curating, photography and drawing.
The ‘Someone & Something’ work is a reflection of my
experience in the context of the study days the group of artists spent at the New Artist Centre
and at Aspex Gallery. The stand out influence was the collaboration between Bill
Woodrow and Richard Deacon, ‘On the Rocks:
Again’. The symbiotic relationship between the glass objects and the
structures spoke of trust and mutual respect between the artists, supporting
and facilitating each other.
‘I Want to Whisper in
Your Ear’ is about relationships. The relationship between the objects I
have selected, between these and my experience, and finally between the work
and the viewer. It has evolved through the summer into an installation which
illustrates the process of its development. It rises up from the floor. The
metal sheet holds a small collection of images; this is the book of the piece and the narrative of the work’s evolution, please look at it if you wish.
At
the pinnacle of the work is a drawing / collage which uses the imagery of
butterflies, these are a metaphor in many cultures for transformation. I have
transformed my physical experience into this work and I hope you enjoy engaging
with it.
Thank you.