Go straight to the main content



murmurART

art advisory - looking for something specific or help in finding work by early career artists. contact info@murmurart.com
Review Sep 30 2008 « | »
Oliver Clegg The surface and the subject are the key elements to Oliver Clegg's art work. Rather than using a canvas......

James Honey

The surface and the subject are the key elements to Oliver Clegg's art work. Rather than using a canvas he opts to utilize salvaged materials such as pages from a book or discarded old drawing boards peppered with scars and marks gathered over time. Often large parts of the surface are left untouched by the artist which brings to light the intrinsic 'art' to be found surrounding us all everyday in the form of blemishes and imperfections. His art triggers an ambiguous narrative by subtly stimulating the viewers memory through the depiction of immediately familiar objects.

His work to date has been predominantly based around old toys that lie redundant and unloved, having once belonged to a now 'adult' generation. There is something plenty uneasy about the cold and fixed grin of an unwanted teddy bear, as if it is still working for a persons affection in a hopeless battle against time and fickle fancies.

The way in which Clegg expertly paints the objects is essential to the work. They are very detailed and could in many cases pass for photographs but for the dull and sometimes cold tone of his paint mix. A strong and solid shadow sets them in their framing and brings an unprecedented weight to them, as if they are anchored down to their past, which is something each of us is able to relate to in possibly more ways than we would wish.

Oliver's solo show 'Nights Move' at the Freud museum runs from 1st of October to 23rd November.

    Comments

Add Comments

  • CAPTCHA Image