What is genuine beauty, how do we respond to it, and can we
recognize it in ourselves as well as others?
Those interested in exploring such questions, and the nature of
identity and sexuality, should head down to Southwark in London to
view the latest exhibition by British artist Alex Roberts,
Individual Liberty.
Expect to be privy to portraits of sexually charged,
powerful women, who instantly challenge the viewer with
fierce but playful stares. You might recognize some of the subjects
too - a portrait of actress Sharon D Clarke makes up one of the
three works in the triptych, Three Graces. These supersized
canvases are larger than life, much like those they portray, who
ooze a busty self-confidence, inspirational to those of us still
struggling with the acceptance of our bodies.
Perhaps there is an element of didacticism here, Roberts
pushing us to be fearless, just as she is, about desire,
individuality and truth. But the continual emphasis on
gender-orientation and self-expression is delivered with a
flirtatious irony and humour that nods towards human vulnerability.
Here the viewer is understood rather than alienated, laughed with
rather than at, and becomes as much a part of the exhibition as the
pieces themselves.
We are urged to admire external individuality whilst
simultaneously acknowledging our shared internal landscapes.
Says Roberts: "I am not looking to influence or dictate in my
work but I do think as artists we have a responsibility to observe
the current period of time we are in and provide room for dialogue
or contemplation from what we observe. I am simply observing,
creating and reflecting, although through participating in this
process, there is no denying that I am nudging the viewer to
respond a bit. I would hope that I simply place the work out there
and in so doing, 'poke' the viewer to arrive at their own informed
and individual responses whether good, indifferent, challenging or
excitable."
It's not just paintings and sketches either - Roberts plays with
media as much as she does with our own view of others and
ourselves. Individual Liberty reminds me of a game of pass the
parcel - every time you think you've revealed the "present", there
is another layer to unwrap. Wandering around for the second and
third time, I saw new things, and noticed pieces that I had
completely missed on my first turn around the old
warehouse.
These include a wonderful series of sketches entitled 'Light up
Middle England', and a flurry of digital signs that offer us
different epithets, ranging from the profound to the
portentous. There's also a telescope, which holds a rather
stimulating surprise for the viewer who dares to look in, and the
scantily clad mannequin that welcomes us at the entrance. Is this a
joke, or a very serious statement about the role of women today?
And what does it mean if we don't notice the mannequin the first
time? She's for sale after all, just like all the other women
here…
Although spread across such a variety of media, the works all
share a common focus, causing us to question our attitudes towards
sex and the different shapes and forms of femininity and
self-expression. Half exhibition, half installation,
Individual Liberty tickles our senses and challenges our
perceptions, both of the subjects of the works, society as a whole
and, most importantly, ourselves.
See www.alexroberts.com for more
details.
Individual Liberty is at 7/7a Gt. Guildford Business
Square, London, SE1 0HS. The artist will be present on Friday
evenings for a beer and a chat about the works.
IMAGE CREDIT Suppertime (Dr Footlights) (detail)
by Alex Roberts
