Jane Fairhurst

Statement

In recent years I have been exploring themes of mass consumerism, human detachment from the natural world and globalisation.
Following on from collage and assemblage, in 2001 I began to use discarded toys, found in abundance in charity shops, as subject matter for 2D, mixed media and sculptural work, rescuing the rejects of mass consumption and affording them a new status as fine art objects.
The use of toys as 'ready-mades' led me to consider appropriation and in 2005 I began a series of paintings based on the 'Small Flower Seies' of woodblock prints by 19th century Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai.
The 'Freefall' series of paintings are a celebration of flora and colour.
In contrast the 'vanitas' figures in each painting symbolise and question human confrontation with the natural world in the 21st century.
Whilst working on the series I became interested in the aesthetic traditions of Chinese and Japanese painting and have introduced these principles in recent paintings.
On completion of the Freefall series I chose to continue painting.
Using techniques derived from earlier collages, I combine photographs of objects from my collections, my drawings and appropriated images from books, newspapers and magazines to create my own visual narratives.
The overriding consideration in my work is always the aesthetic and whilst the subject matter may be humurous, political or personal the context is often deliberately ambiguous allowing the viewer to develop their own dialogue with the work.

Recent Exhibitions

2007
Blackburn Museum and Art Gallery – ‘Freefall Series’ – solo exhibition
Kitchen Gallery, Runcorn – group exhibition
Imitate at Tatton Park, Cheshire – group exhibition
Harris Museum and Art Gallery, Preston - solo exhibition
West Lancs Open, Chapel Gallery, Ormskirk
Drumcroon Gallery, Wigan – OK Studios Exhibition

2006
Colour Box Series - Cornerhouse, Manchester
The Postcard Show - Surface Gallery, Nottingham
Suite Open Studios - Suite Studios, Salford
Art Supermarket - Ale and Porter Gallery, Bath
‘Red Dot’, Liverpool Biennial Indep. - 52 Roscoe Street, Liverpool
Cupola 15, part 2 - Cupola Gallery, Sheffield
Cupola 15, part 1 - Cupola Gallery, Sheffield
Sefton Open - Atkinson Gallery, Southport
‘Post It’ - Atkinson Gallery, Southport
‘Unnatural Selection’ - Shrewsbury Art Gallery
West Lancs Open - Chapel Gallery, Ormskirk
‘Colour matters’ - Chapel Gallery, Ormskirk
‘Britishness’ - Cornerhouse, Manchester

2005
Katalogue 1 - Inclusion in Fine Art Publication
Katalogue Volume 1 (selected artist) - Trafalgar Hotel, Trafalgar Square, London
West Lancashire Open (1st Prize) - Chapel Gallery. Ormskirk
Imagine - Osteopathic Childrens’ Centre, Manchester
‘Objects of Desire’ (3D prize) - Turnpike Gallery, Leigh

Website

www.janefairhurst.co.uk

Other Online Work

www.okstudios.org
www.suite-studiogroup.co.uk
www.axisweb.org

Contact:

OK Studios,
The Standish Centre,
Cross Street,
Standish,
Wigan, WN6 0HQ

Tel: 01257 424804
Mobile: 07950 208754
E-mail: jane@greenslate.plus.com