New works by Susan Stockwell. At Stockwell's winter 2002 exhibition, you will see a whole new series of sculptures and wall pieces inspired by Alda Caparrelli's London apartment and exhibition space. Indeed the gallerist Alda Caparrelli is an inspiration herself. Stockwell will be dressing her in costume made from a recycled everyday material (details to be revealed on the day) to become, for one evening a 'crazy living sculpture'.
New works by Susan Stockwell
A cascade of
industrial quantities of toilet paper at Susan Stockwell's previous
London exhibition caused a media outcry. Opinions were split over whether her
ephemeral sculpture was an object of unusual and "ethereal" beauty, a view put
forward by much of the 'serious' art press, or simply "meaningless" (Brian
Sewell). The Daily Express crowned the artist "Mistress of the Rolls".
At Stockwell's winter 2002 exhibition, you will see a whole new series
of sculptures and wall pieces inspired by Alda Caparrelli's London apartment and
exhibition space (Studio Caparrelli, 7th Nov- 15th Dec). Indeed the gallerist
Alda Caparrelli is an inspiration herself. Stockwell will be dressing her in
costume made from a recycled everyday material (details to be revealed on the
day) to become, for one evening a "crazy living sculpture".
The theme
of Coffee House is the domestic environment. Quilts made from hundreds of
tea bags carefully stitched together will be hanging over the windows. With the
light of the evening sun filtering through the delicate paper and tea, the
pieces generates a strange soft atmosphere which permeates the exhibition space.
The 20+ new works are predominantly made from used coffee filters and tea bags,
or from paper stained with the pigments in these drinks.
Other pieces
include paintings of common root vegetables created with coffee, and table
sculptures made from Papier Maché. The central piece is a full-size wedding
dress made from hundreds of used coffee filter papers and paper 'portion cups'.
Previously exhibited at the Victoria and Albert Museum, this is the first time
it will be shown in a smaller domestic setting more akin to what the artist
originally envisaged.
Stockwell has an obsession with substances we use
daily and take for granted. For example, she is fascinated by paper itself, its
manufacture, history, politics and its material qualities. She has chosen coffee
and tea for two reasons: the first is the sensual and visual appeal of the
materials themselves; the second the underlying economic and political
connections.
"lucida handwriting" "Coffee and tea"
are two of the most heavily political and exploited commodities on the global
market, and have been the cause of war for over two centuries. In the 18th
century the export of tea from China led to the Opium wars. Under the current
ecomomic status quo, coffee producers barely scrape a living while Western
coffee distributers and trendy coffee shops make millions. They are luxury
items that we do not regard as such. And both substances are, on the one hand,
pleasant hot drinks, associated with times of relaxation and homeliness, while
on the other they are deeply poisonous drugs - an injection of pure caffeine
would be lethal. I want to deconstruct the notions we have about the things we
consume, throw away and take for granted, but hopefully also to reconstruct
something new and meaningful out of what is left ."
Susan Stockwell
In the image: 'Cascade', 1997, Tissue paper 20' x 40' x 25'.
Stockwell has exhibited widely
holding prestigious solo shows:
Susan Stockwell Selected Works
(2001) - V & A, London UK (2001)
Material Accomplices (2001) - Fine
Silver Gallery, San Antonio, Texas, USA
Accumulations (2000) - Thomas
Korzelius Fine Art, NY, USA, also at The Economist Plaza Gallery, London UK
Embedded (1996-7) - Angel Row Gallery, Nottingham, also at Battersea
Arts Centre, and Wrexham Art Gallery
Paper Installation (1996) -
Bernard Jacobsen,
She has also had solo exhibitions at Jibby Bean (London),
The Crescent (Scarborough), and The Mappin Art Gallery (Sheffield)
She
has been involved in group shows from Ohio to Ulan Batur, Tokyo to New York,
and all over Europe. Stockwell is currently exhibiting at Lyon and Turnbull's
Auction House (Aug 10th-22nd) and Bourne Fine Art (Aug 10th -31st) at the
Edinburgh Festival.
The
artist will be giving a press talk on 7th November at 3pm.
Dressed for Tea
Susan
Stockwell will be dressing the exhibition curator, Alda Caparelli, in clothes
made from recycled everyday materials for the preview night, 7th November,
6.30-10.30pm.
Preview 7th November 6.30pm-10.30pm
Opens: 11am-5pm by appointment
All works are
for sale, prices start at £350.
For visuals (in any format), further
information and interviews, contact Jessica or Piers
020 7627 4407
Studio Caparrelli, Flat D, 44
Bramham Gardens, London SW5 0HQ
Telephone: 020 7370 1714
Nearest tube: Earl's Court/Gloucester Road
Email: atamaro@yahoo.com