Pieces of Me An exhibition of installation, photography and print works by Agata Cardoso & Jonathan Solomon

Agata Cardoso has been using photography as her primary medium since her studies at Art School. She photographs the female form and her subject matter lies within the many complexities of the female body and identity.

Cardoso’s photographic work has appeared in various national and international publications; most recently her “Breast Cancer Series” appeared in the London Independent Photography Magazine. Her images have also been published in a book in association with the Lavender Trust Breast Cancer Charity.

Cardoso’s New body of work entitled “Repulsively Feminine” is her most experimental yet. Although she comes originally from a textile background this medium was put aside for years whilst she experimented with photographic techniques. She now swaps the camera lens for traditional woman’s handwork crafts; her point of view is predominantly female. She explores the taboo of female sexuality in a series of sculptural pieces adorning and celebrating the vagina, through the use of traditional embroidery crafts-usually associated with the work or past times of women, encasing them in Victoriana wallpapers. Her sculptural vaginas and underwear pieces are curiously attractive and this is emphasized through the use of sumptuous fabrics and petal pink flowers. She blurs the boundaries of femininity in her large scale photographs, suggesting the ambiguity between the male and female form.

Jonathon Solomon has exhibited his work internationally in Denmark, Sweden, Croatia and Japan. For over ten years Solomon has created his multi-media pieces here in London and of recent we have welcomed him at the Red Gate Gallery, where he has used our studio spaces to create a strong and professional collection.

Solomon studied photography but since then has decided to introduce a range of mediums to give variety to his work. The two techniques he has predominately associated himself with now are painting and printmaking. From the macabre to the topical Solomon’s work embraces these issues often using collage to emphasis the artists fragmented view point. His pieces frequently result in colourful concoctions leaving the viewer disorientated.

Solomon has chosen to develop a new sculptural element to his latest collection, the images of which focus on the life cycle. He generates through his work detached feelings to his subjects and uses their bodies as commodities that are devoid of emotion. But not content at leaving the pieces at this bleak conclusion, Solomon chooses to lift them to a new humorous and light hearted level; this new comfortable mood is homage to the vintage styling of William Morris. The three intentionally disfigured cast heads featured in the show hold the metaphoric secrets to Solomon’s own cerebral issues, which relate to his epilepsy and colour-blindness which he has lived with since a child.

Private View: Friday 16th of October 2009

Exhibition runs from: Friday 16th to Thursday 22nd of October 2009

Gallery Opening Hours: Fri, Sat, Mon, Tues, Wed, Thurs: 2.30 pm – 6.30 pm

Last day of Exhibition: Thurs 22nd of October: 11.00am to 5.00pm

Sender Name Yara Tachallener

Sender E-mail Info@redgategallery.co.uk

Picture full URL http://www.redgategallery.co.uk