Painting and Resistance

Painting and Resistance

Tuesday 24 August 2021 - Sunday 19 September 2021

Times: Mon to Sat 10am – 5pm, Sun 10am – 4pm

Prices: Free

Venue: Apex Gallery

Painting and Resistance: A selection of new works by Keith Hopewell and Nikki Goldup

"One is no longer in a history of art or a history of forms. They have been deconstructed, destroyed. All that remains to be done is play with the pieces" - Jean Baudrillard

At the crux of this new exhibition is a short process film, shot by Nikki Goldup at the artist’s hometown in Suffolk. The film features Keith Hopewell painting a large blank canvas, laid flat on the ground, wearing a mask, gloves and protective clothing.

The black paint being applied is unusually transmitted by the rolling of an oversized aerosol moving back and forth. This leaves tracks and over-spray wherever this ‘vehicle’ traverses. It is an oxymoron of both calculation and unpredictability that allows the composition to fall into place, until the container is left emptied of its contents.

This sort of hands-free painting technique, along with the ritualist dance-like quality of his working process, evokes an eerie feeling of absence and presence, reminding us of our experience living in the strange new reality, formed by the pandemic. 

Nikki Goldup explores object-language and hyper-textual relationships, responding to Keith’s process and methodology, opening new lines of enquiry and interpretation.

Throughout her work she amalgamates textile, spray paint, found object and print, creating minimalist pieces that lend themselves well to the architectural spaces within The Apex Gallery. 

This exhibition is about working in flux and the democratisation of historically stigmatised mediums. By focusing on the performative elements of painting and art making as a lived experience, the artists believe this is the only real route towards the true essence of why we make art. The exhibition will include a curation of paintings, print, photography, textiles and film reflecting the diverse practice of the artists.

Visit Keith Hopewell's website and Nikki Goldup's website.