Sophie Beedham
Caroline Chisholm College
FIBRO ABSTRACTIONS, RICHMOND
Collection of Work
Clay/underglazes, multi-colour collagraphs, acrylic painting on board
My body of work, Fibro Abstractions, Richmond, consists of a large acrylic painting, three multi-plate collagraphs and three small ceramic forms. The work explores the forms, shapes and patterns of fibro houses in a Richmond streetscape, layering strong abstract forms with references to iconic features such as wire screen doors, awnings, verandahs and brickwork. I am interested in modernist abstraction and focused on the unique colours, shapes and textures of these houses’ era. My intent was to express the beauty of our ordinary suburban landscape, which is often overlooked.
My artmaking practice has been influenced by the study and interpretation of the following artists: Catherine O'Donnell, Threshold, Park Only in Marked Bays; Guo Jian, Trigger Happy.
Marker's Commentary
This extensive collection of works of a large painting, three multi-plate collagraphs and three small ceramic forms, represent an abstracted interpretation of typical low-income fibro houses around the streetscape of Richmond. Across the series, the student has explored the shapes and patterns that are characteristic of these homes. In a homage to these iconic parts of our landscape there are playfully layered strong abstract forms referencing wire screen doors, awnings, verandas and brickwork. The work is not simply a repetition of the same concept but a deep exploration of the different ways of interpreting the motifs. Each work in the series, shows a sophisticated mastery and understanding of the expressive potential of the materials and techniques. In the painting, the composition breaks out of the façade of the structure and plays with dynamic iterations and layers of the essential motifs of windows, doors, and other elements such as weatherboards or verandah elements. The colour choices reference the colours typical to these houses. There are a wide range of confident and bold painting applications that include layering, impasto, glazing and stencilling. The student’s choice to use collagraph form for the prints extends the investigation of surface and texture evident in the painting. The collagraph plates use a variety of layered techniques to build rich surface. Using multi colour rolls with a range of rolled textures and transparent layers in the background layer as well as multi colour inking on the plates, the student has referred to the painting while also exploring the expressive potential of the medium. In addition to these two expressive forms, the work also includes a “streetscape” of three ceramic forms. These forms reference and extend the abstract exploration of the motifs, patterns and textures in the painting and collagraphs. The forms are expertly constructed and resolved with a rich range of surface treatments using textured areas and sculptural additions. Sophisticated and considered use of oxide washes and brushed and stencilled underglaze reference and reiterate the layered colours and textures in the painting in a different elaboration in the ceramic forms.