The “Colour Me Cardiff/ Lliwia Fi’n Llandaf” exhibition launches on Saturday 16th April 2016
Two Welsh artists are launching a joint exhibition of intensely bright neon paintings and sculptures at Off the Wall Gallery in Cardiff.
Artists Eloise Govier and Swci Delic share a passion for bright neon colours. "We have a mutual obsession with strong contrasts, fluorescent colours - the need for neon - it is a passion shared".
The artists work at the interface between Expressionism and Pop/OP Art and both utilise contemporary digital and traditional art methods.
Eloise comments: 'I think collectively there is something unique in the way we are interacting with colour, its like a hyper use of colour", Swci adds “it's colour on colour on colour".
Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama is cited as one major influence. The artists discovered they had both seen Kusama's show at the Tate Modern in 2012. "You can see the influence Kusama has had on us, we were both blown-away by that exhibition and how she used colour and pattern in her paintings and installations”.
"We've both been really productive over the last few years, pulling together the show has been easy as our art works amazingly well together. There will be loads of paintings and sculptures - it will be a smorgasbord of colour, light and form - a feast for the eyes!"
"We realise that our combined work might be quite overwhelming. But our shared aim is to spread a bit of joy, positivity, and have people going "wow" when they enter the space.
Colour has an effect on our feelings of wellbeing and our lives far more than we realise. Our aim is to exhibit our works together to create a huge colour impact on the senses!"
On the collaboration Eloise states: "I have admired Swci's work for a while now, I love her gutsy approach to art. I always thought our work would be punchy together - exhibiting at Off the Wall Gallery together is an excellent opportunity to showcase how we see the world in the Capital”.
Swci says “It’s fantastic to find an ally in an artist I admire who has a similar outlook and feel in her art - I think it’s going to be an exciting and slightly bananas exhibition to brighten up the Cardiff spring after a dreary wet winter."
Swci Delic was formerly the Welsh language singer Swci Boscawen, who’s career came to a sudden end after collapsing with a brain tumour in 2010. With no previous experience of art, she found her curious creative path in painting as she battled the condition. After intense cancer treatment and “being to hell and back" Swci developed an inexplicable urge to start - and never stop - painting. She says:
“As I tried to come to terms with this new way of life, the emptiness I felt without music was replaced by a huge, burning desire to paint. My brain wanted to create big bold patterns and use as much colour as possible. I became obsessed. I dream about painting; I do art because it’s compulsory - I can’t control it. My name conveys the psychedelic nature of my art. With this incredible second chance at life I took it and ran.”
Swci Delic works from her studio in Carmarthen and her large collection of works acts as an ongoing exercise in colour therapy. The artist mixes her own paints, frustrated by the choice of colours on offer. She experiments with emulsions, neon powders and acrylic to create vibrant, one-of-a-kind colours to examine the role that colour plays in our lives and tries to convey the impact it has on our ‘all over sense of well being’. The result is a body of work which is bold, psychedelic, contemporary, fun and larger than life. Works on show will include a painted armchair, which has never been exhibited before and a fun collection of fluorescent gnomes sculptures.
Swci Delic has previously exhibited at Carmarthen’s King Street Gallery and Galeri Caernarfon, was resident artist at Newton House during the Dinefwr Literature Festival, was commissioned to prepare a major work by The National Eisteddfod, prepared artwork for a number of Welsh musicians and created a line of limited edition footwear and textile cushions. She’s been featured in various press and media outlets including The Metro, The Western Mail, Golwg, BBC & S4C.
Eloise Govier grew-up in Cenarth and works from her studio in Ceredigion, she is known for her trade-mark paintings of thick swathes of colourful oil on canvas. The artist also creates installation art pieces, notably her 'Ticker-Tape' series where the artist moves and places brightly coloured bricks across socially significant spaces. The artist has exhibited and created installations and live performances both nationally and internationally in places such as the UNESCO Carl Legien Housing Estate in Berlin, Amsterdam, Japan, and the Millennium Square in Bristol in collaboration with the AT-Bristol Science Centre and the BBC Big Screen (Bristol). Eloise has been interviewed by BBC and S4C and various newspapers and magazines about her work.
Eloise will be exhibiting huge neon "blood" paintings that capture in oil the artist on a molecular-level (Govier describes these as "self-portraits"), paintings of Port Talbot and a range of experimental drawings either drawn on aluminium oxide or digitally produced.
Future plans Both artists have a busy summer ahead of them:
Eloise is curating the 'Cartesian Cut?' exhibition for the Fringe Arts Bath and organising a one day experimental 'Colourscape' workshop for anthropologists and artists at the Arnolfini, Bristol. The artist has solo resident art shows at Cardigan Brasserie and Ffwrn Fishguard opening in April and May.
Swci’s condition still drives her obsession with creating new pieces. Her illness limits her to just two shows a year, which has increased the rarity value of her works when seen on display.
Limited edition "goody-bags" will be handed out at the press conference and opening of the art show on the 16th April.
Off the Wall Contemporary Gallery, The Old Probate Registry Cardiff Road Llandaff Cardiff CF5 2DQ.
Mae’r arddangosfa “Colour Me Cardiff / Lliwia Fi’n Llandaf” yn cael ei lansio ar Sadwrn Ebrill 16eg 2016. Gwaith dau artist o Gymru sydd yn y sioe a rhyngddynt byddant yn arddangos darnau o'i celf liwgar a llachar yn Oriel Off The Wall yng Nghaerdydd.
Mae’r artistiaid Eloise Govier a Swci Delic yn angerddol am liwiau llachar. Mae arddull y ddau arlunydd rhywle rhwng Mynegiadaeth a celfyddyd Bop ac mae'r ddau yn cyfuno dulliau traddodiadol a dulliau digidol modern.
Yn cael eu arddangos gan Swci bydd darnau newydd sbon sy’n cynnwys cadair wedi ei beintio a chasgliad o corrachod lliwgar ynghyd ar beintiadau mawr arferol. Bydd Eloise yn arddangos lluniau enfawr o dan y teitlau “Gwaed”, lluniau o Bort Talbot a chyfres o luniau arbrofol wedi ei chynhyrchu’n ddigidol neu wedi ei arlunio ar alwminiwm oxide.