Roland Hicks  ||  New Paintings  ||  Alfred Camp Gallery  ||  27.01 - 25.02.2001 ||  
 
 

Roland Hicks' paints a delicate and sensual view of everyday domestic objects. His effectual examination of their discard and the sensuous use of paint reasserts the familiar, eroticising and redepicting forms which surround us daily. Hicks will paint a sponge, a chocolate biscuit, a plug, yet his emphasis lies with eroticising the objects beyond their conventional sense of interpretation. The need for familiarity with the painted form is exacerbated by the detailed technique Hicks uses, as well as the appropriation of photographic focus. However, as one approaches the pristine surfaces they begin to disintegrate, eroticising the discarded items into another realm of meaning. His paintings are equally an examination of still life and photographic conventions. His latest paintings deal with items of oral consumption, captured at the moment of discard. These are past objects, denied re-use; a carton of milk left to spill on the ground; a bottle of tippex, knocked over with the lid off; a tea bag, ready to go in the bin. The paintings emanate a mode of silence, the boundaries of photographic reference remain whilst the form is personalised and mentally abstracted through careful compositional placement. Hicks' skillful use of technique , focusing on the tip, or discharge, evokes both the body and its margins, leakage and bodily fluid, whilst simultaneously conjuring references to hygiene and perception. Roland Hicks studied his MA in Slade School of Art. Since graduating in 1998 he has shown in numerous group shows including 'Losing the Plot' at VANE, Newcastle; ÔMighty RealÕ at the Dazed & Confused Gallery London, 'Viva Chihuahua!' at the Tannery, London, and 'Romatische Stratigien' at Albatros 515, Berlin. His most recent work was exhibited in Art2001 at the Business Design Centre in January. Hicks' work appeared in the NatWest prize in 1998 and has been collected widely in the Uk and abroad. This is his second solo show at 'Alfred Camp Gallery', formerly Ô97-99 galleryÕ London.

Venue:  Alfred Camp Gallery

Address: 97-99  Sclater Street London  E1 UK

Dates:  27th Jan - 25th Feb 1999 ||  Fri - Sun 1 - 5pm || and by appointment

Opening:  Saturday 27th Nov 1999 ||  7 - 9pm

Press contact:  Alfred Camp  || E.mail: alfred@alfredcamp.com ||  Tel: +44 (0)20-7729 9498
  mp

Press Information Compiled: 09.01.2001