Realise: Sheets Gouache

I think the reason the sea ones don’t work as well is because of the fact that they are more figurative. The marks therefore become less interesting as they are more descriptive than charged.

When painting the gouache, tracing faintly abstract shadow shapes, it feels like retracing elements of a memory that would not usually be explored or remembered. There is such an intention to detail that is usually unavailable in memory that the photograph makes available. Oddly, when engaging with this act, it distorts the memory further, autocorrecting details, creating a new memory. A layering occurs of different understanding of one moment, one interaction. The gouache facilitates a documentation of this layering affect. Each interaction with the image visible.

On the sheets, when the white gouache covers the shadow, the value nearly meets that of the light on sheets in the photograph, it brings into question which elements of the image are real, as with memory. As I trace, I loose track of what is photograph and what is painting and so retrace areas I have done, not knowing if it has already been covered. I reinvestigate a revised area thinking it represents the original. It is not about aimlessly covering but engaging with each area.

It is about being very present in the act of interaction. And the abstract quality asks the same of the viewers. The white is void of colour ? Adding/subtracting/blocking out areas that are seemingly uninteresting, bringing other areas of the image to the foreground. Going over darker areas to fade it like memory, recede to distance, white as neutral, inviting viewer to engage.

The area between each photograph is covered, merging the memories, it is unclear if they are separate events or part of the same.

Reinteracting with memory, ambiguity. Your memory can trace the shape of the event but in its own way.

And what of taking it off the wall?

Experimentation

Thinking of the memory veil I had created in the last project, I thought about incorporating the same cloth. It is fluid and ethereal like memory. I found however that it perhaps detracted from the image, it felt like an unnecessary add on and with the image of the bed, the fabric became more about the bed than the quality of memory or moment.

I also tried loose paint mark making as I had previously done but felt the gouache was something I could push further and perhaps worked better in a collection.