This dynamic group of 20 contemporary artists has begun the organisation of their exhibition with the umbrella title of CONFOUND. The title was collectively agreed upon to embody the many possibilities required by an art collective who work autonomously and only come together for two exhibitions a year.
To dumbfound, startle, bemuse, discombobulate, unnerve, obfuscate, set someone thinking are but a few meanings which can be attached to the word CONFOUND. It is important, as a group, to encapsulate the diverse presentations of works of art, installations, films and performances one xhibition. The individual and intuitive views of each artist is underpinned by extensive research into current affairs, historical events, poetry, literature,music, meditation and, coupled with the interrogation of materials, form, and genre. LAC Contemporary Arts endeavours to capture and intrigue audiences with ambitious and thought provoking work.
The viewer is surreptitiously invited to look and to look again, to listen, walk around and to ask questions of the works that may inspire, confront or CONFOUND them.
What is the artwork trying to tell me? How does it make me feel? What is its meaning? Why is this material being used; how does it add to the story? Is it a metaphor? Is it symbolic? Often the name given to the work by the artist will add a hint of understanding and encourage a discussion with a co-viewer. “CONFOUND embodies challenge! The artwork has undertones. ‘We do different’”. says LAC artist, Julia Cameron.
Following interviews with some of the LAC artists taking part in CONFOUND, it became clear that within the throes of creating the work, each artist is constantly confounded within the process of making. For instance, Tracy Satchwill is exploring the abuse of women through the mythologized story of Medusa to inform a digitally enhanced installation.Roger Foyster admits he can be thrown into a “state of confusion and perplexity”, while Kirsten Riley hopes to be “stopped in her tracks” when exploring her
process.
Zangmo Alexander finds her challenges in the exploration of Self by questioning the meaning of life through meditation and visual presentation.
Natasha Day’s combinations of mixed metals have culminated in exciting and surprising formations for jewellery and sculptures, and Laure Van Minden “always expects the unexpected” with her music-led drawing performances. She hopes to CONFOUND the
audience by showing how one can be in tune with a building’s fabric, particularly the floor.
Andrew Hornett’s large enigmatic onsite installations of discarded and found objects are enhanced with ongoing secretly videoed performances of change and can be CONFOUNDING in their abstraction. Simon Marshall’s enormous brightly cartooned figurative canvases with their miasmic undertones invite challenging questions, as do Julia Cameron’s breeze blown, wafting fabric hangings which expose the disintegration of Renaissance-like bowls of fruit, possibly
questioning the meaning of life.
Jacqui Jones’ highlights the complexities of climate change that CONFOUND us in her interactive installation ‘The World is Watching’
and Jocelyn Jacobson’s clay paintings are a metaphor for the
destructive nature of humankind.
Every LAC artist will have their own individual thought processes and way of researching and all will find their artistic and intellectual processes CONFOUNDING in so many different ways. With
this in mind, we will always ask our viewers to approach us for a casual conversation or a full on and lively discussion about the works on display.
The artists exhibiting include David Cassell, Natasha Day, Zangmo Alexander, Emily Gardiner,
Julia Cameron, Keron Beaty, Jacqui Jones, Grace Adam, Andrew Hornett, Roger Foyster,
Kirsten Riley, Rebecca Clifford, Laure Van Minden, Tracy Satchwill, Simon Marshall, Jocelyn Jacobson, Jayne McConnell and Nicole Minton.
Confound exhibition will be held at Shoe Factory Social Club, St Mary’s Works, St Mary’s Plain, Norwich and will run from Thursday 8th to Sunday 18th June daily 11am – 5pm.
There will be an open view on Thursday 8th June from 6.30 – 8pm. Everyone is welcome.
