White Paper Pen 'Love Me Love Me Say That You Love Me!' 25 October - 14 November 2021

LOVE ME LOVE ME SAY THAT YOU LOVE ME!

In the midst of the winter lockdown, when I was due to be travelling through Mexico, an entity now known as “Steve” emerged in paint. He came seemingly out of nowhere and has been present in my work ever since. A presence I’ve found unsettling and somewhat ridiculous. Despite trying to kill him off, he’s become as resilient as he is colourful,  appearing in numerous guises and predicaments. Manic, often crying, he’s nostalgic, likes to dress up and be silly, travel the world and isn’t afraid of a bit of controversy. It’s even got to the point where people ask me how he is. A scenario that I find beyond comical yet at the same time intriguing. 

I’m asked regularly if “Steve” is actually me to which my knee jerk response is “Christ, I hope not” but I’ll admit there’s a strong resonance between us. There are days where I love him and days I hate him. Our evolving relationship is both bizarre and confusing but I’ve become resigned to the fact he isn’t going anywhere. A therapist would have a field day with this no?

This diorama is a further step in accepting his presence and is inspired by the Mexican tradition of the Nicho.  A form of folk art I’ve become fascinated with whilst researching my eventual escape to Mexico… 

White Paper Pen

'Love Me Love Me Say That You Love Me' Wood, Clay, Paint, Paper, Swarovski Crystal 10cm x 10cm x 10cm 2021.

Love Me Love Me Say That You Love Me (2021)

White Paper Pen is the studio of Folkestone based artist Steven Aron Williams. His work encompasses ideas about identity, politics, mortality and commemoration, bound together in a style which finds its origins in the cartoons of his childhood. Travel and popular culture are also recurring themes. He sees his  practice as an introspective process underpinned by anxiety, ageing and a dark humour ; an attempt to make sense of the world and his place in it.

Love Me, Love Me, Say That You Love Me is an extension of the exhibition entitled “Self” at the Eight Squared Gallery, Folkestone from the 28th Oct - 8th Nov.

25th October - 14th November

The Pocket Gallery / Payers Park Community Garden / Folkestone

Elin Melberg 'Untitled' 4 - 24 October 2021

Elin Melberg

Untitled

Elin Melberg (b. Stavanger, Norway, 1976) graduated with a Masters of Fine Art from the Royal College of Art (London) in 2002. Since 2003 Melberg has lived and worked in Stavanger, also co-directing the artist-run project space Prosjektrom Normanns (closed 2020).

She is co-founder and co-owner of the creative working space ELEFANT in Stavanger. Melberg is a member of Arrangørutvalget for Visuell kunst in the Arts Council Norway.

Elin Melberg has recently exhibited at Stavanger Art Museum (NO) (ongoing);

Hå gamle Prestegard (NO) (ongoing); Nordnorsk Art Museum (NO) (2020-21);

Oppland Art Center (NO) (2020); Abingdon Studios (UK) (2019);

Interface Gallery (SF) (2019); KUBE Art Museum (NO) (2018);

Nord-Trøndelag Art Museum (NO) (2018);

Kunsthall Stavanger (NO) (2018); Untitled San Francisco (2017 & 18)

and Nordenfjeldske kunstindustrimuseum (NO) (2017).

Collections include Stavanger Art Museum (2021, 20 & 14),

Stavanger University Hospital (2016), Oslo Municipality Art Collection (2016),

Stavanger Concert Hall (2015), KORO (2011), Statoil Art Collection (2011, 05 & 03),

Stavanger Municipality, Royal College of Art (2002),

Norwegian Petroleum Directorate (2012) and the Bazil Alkazzi Foundation (2002).

 To find out more about Elin and her work please visit her website:

www.elinmelberg.com

or take a look at her instagram: @elinmelberg

Elin Melberg

'Untitled'

Mixed media.

2021.

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