The Great Hall

The Great Hall is a collection of work I have painted in the last couple of years, including some pieces created specifically for this Cass Art exhibition.
Delicate brushstrokes tentatively placed on a small, sometimes tiny scale encourage the viewer to lean in a little closer only to reveal sinister undertones and uncomfortable subject matter.

Moving clockwise around the room the paintings, often inspired by dreams, or flashing thoughts, lay bare a cycle of thought patterns.
A small wall of flowers and a self-portrait ‘Idol’ greet you, tokens of affection and self-love.
The series of portraits offer a repetitive timeline of stares, looking outwards at the viewer, seeking conversation and an attempt to be understood. Each one although part of a set, ultimately is alone and isolated.
‘The Party’ and ‘The Constant Sojourner’ move on to feelings of worry and fear brought by unseen enemies. No longer seeking to be understood, now merely wishing to continue as usual despite the pain and anguish.
A sense of acceptance and self-reflection is shown on the final wall. The painting ‘Reflex’ showing a willing to look within myself for answers as opposed to seeking them from others, the mirrored aluminium of ‘Weight’ and the tiny locket ‘Insignificant’ both offer a step away from my usual medium, perhaps a step towards new answers.
A theme of loneliness is apparent in the room, striving for answers to questions unknown, solitary Jude’s exist in a world of my own, amplified by the negative space in the room, separating each piece and leaving space simply for thought.