[ePub] Changing the Performance: A Companion Guide to Arts; Business and Civic Engagement by Julia Rowntree in Arts-Photography

Description

Caroline Walker (b. 1982; Dunfermline) has established herself as one of the UKrsquo;s most exciting figurative painters of her generation working internationally today. By means of an elegant and seductive yet forthright use of paint; Walker makes paintings that explore ideas of gender in relation to architecture. With a particular interest in femininity; she addresses peoplersquo;s physical; psychological; emotional; and social relationships with the buildings in which they spend time ndash; whether at home; at work; at leisure or in more mysterious circumstances. By depicting women undertaking all manner of activities; from everyday chores; sleeping; and sunbathing to more obscure or dramatic scenarios; she takes the viewer inside peoplersquo;s private worlds and states of mind. Some of the women depicted seem lonely; bored; tired; or depressed; while others appear playful and relaxed; whether alone or in company.Often it is unclear who the women are or what their relationship is with the premises in which they are located; raising notions of identity; class; and roles acted out at different times in peoplersquo;s lives. As many of the locations depicted are luxury houses and apartments; it is hard to say if a particular person is the owner or a tenant; a guest or a maid; opening up economic; political; social; and cultural questions about the paintings ndash; are we looking at the super rich at leisure; house-sitters; holidaymakers; domestic workers; squatters; or actors on set? While the paintings are often charming and appealing; there is regularly something odd or unexpected underlying them ndash; occasionally verging on the threatening or dangerous. Sometimes dream homes can be anything buthellip;The research and development for Walkerrsquo;s paintings is an elaborate process. Involving numerous life models and actors; she finds properties around the world in which to stage photo shoots. Carefully chosen costumes; accessories and props are brought along; and Walker directs her cast around the property. Following this; the artist makes a number of drawings and oil sketches before settling on a composition to work up into a final painting back in her studio. It is a process that clearly helps to generate the cinematic and theatrical atmosphere that pervades her work. Alongside film influences ranging from Hitchcock to Lynch and recent Hollywood productions; Walker is inspired by artists including Eric Fischl; the Scottish colorists; and current painting from Central and Eastern Europe; as well as by the constructed photography of Hannah Starkey; Gregory Crewdson; and Jeff Wall. Full of contemporary and historical references and influences; Walkerrsquo;s practice is an engaging journey into the modern female condition and the lsquo;female gazersquo;.In Every Dream Home ndash; the first monograph of Walkerrsquo;s work ndash; features around fifty key paintings; oil sketches; and ink drawings alongside an introductory text by art historian; critic; and curator Marco Livingstone; an essay by independent critic and curator Jane Neal; and an interview with the artist by editor and curator Matt Price.