Ali Silverstein - The Dark Room
2 Nov - 15 Dec 2007
BISCHOFF/WEISS is pleased to announce an exhibition of new paintings by Ali Silverstein. "The Dark Room" is a new series of dark, intimate studies of the human face in watercolour.
Like the painter Chuck Close, Silverstein uses a grid to break down the image of a face into a series of cells - each cell a microcosm of abstract shapes of colour.
She then records each of these shapes, building them up as layers of light, bricks of colour, to create a new image. In this process each mark takes precedence over the overall representation, so that a shape of pink, for example, has its own integrity, vivified as a shape of pink, liberated from the idea of "cheek". The process of layering these abstractions into traditional representations creates for the viewer a sumptuous and resonant visual experience - creating a dynamic integration of abstraction and representation.
Unlike oil painting, watercolour is normally applied light-to-dark - each mark an irretrievable stain that cannot be painted over. And although it is usually a medium chosen to depict light and translucency, these portraits use that translucency to create a kind of dark-light akin to Morris Louis' Veil series of the 1950's, wherein he layered acrylic resin to create a simultaneous overall experience of darkness and the celebration of colour.
Downstairs in "The Dark Room" presents a small series of "blind" self-portraits - paintings made "blindly," that is, looking into a mirror rather than at the paper.
Ali Silverstein, born in 1980, graduated in 2002 from Columbia University (New York) with a BA in Visual Arts and Religion and in 2005 with an MFA from the Slade School of Art (London). Past shows include: "Sine Qua Non", "And/And", BISCHOFF/WEISS (2005), "Augnablick", Govett-Kerr (2005). After producing the short film, "Last Night" in 2006, Ali Silverstein was accepted in the New Mexico Filmmaker Intensive program. In 2007 she directed her first film, "10/11".
For further information please call 0207 033 0309, or email info@bischoffweiss.com
Open Wednesday to Saturday 11am - 6pm and by appointment.
Like the painter Chuck Close, Silverstein uses a grid to break down the image of a face into a series of cells - each cell a microcosm of abstract shapes of colour.
She then records each of these shapes, building them up as layers of light, bricks of colour, to create a new image. In this process each mark takes precedence over the overall representation, so that a shape of pink, for example, has its own integrity, vivified as a shape of pink, liberated from the idea of "cheek". The process of layering these abstractions into traditional representations creates for the viewer a sumptuous and resonant visual experience - creating a dynamic integration of abstraction and representation.
Unlike oil painting, watercolour is normally applied light-to-dark - each mark an irretrievable stain that cannot be painted over. And although it is usually a medium chosen to depict light and translucency, these portraits use that translucency to create a kind of dark-light akin to Morris Louis' Veil series of the 1950's, wherein he layered acrylic resin to create a simultaneous overall experience of darkness and the celebration of colour.
Downstairs in "The Dark Room" presents a small series of "blind" self-portraits - paintings made "blindly," that is, looking into a mirror rather than at the paper.
Ali Silverstein, born in 1980, graduated in 2002 from Columbia University (New York) with a BA in Visual Arts and Religion and in 2005 with an MFA from the Slade School of Art (London). Past shows include: "Sine Qua Non", "And/And", BISCHOFF/WEISS (2005), "Augnablick", Govett-Kerr (2005). After producing the short film, "Last Night" in 2006, Ali Silverstein was accepted in the New Mexico Filmmaker Intensive program. In 2007 she directed her first film, "10/11".
For further information please call 0207 033 0309, or email info@bischoffweiss.com
Open Wednesday to Saturday 11am - 6pm and by appointment.