Artist Tara Bursey’s show ‘paperwork/foodwork is currently on show at Poplar Online. One of my favourite pieces is ‘shrimplace’ pale pink shrimps enmeshed together like a doiley. It seems to me to hint at craft practices once traditionally associated with women. Crochet, lacemaking – repetitious, labour intensive, domestic. Tara’s choice of food as artworks is an interesting one. Surely the refusal or rationing of food is a position of power and control. Manageing the ‘unmanageable’? A British artist who appears to have similar concerns is Kirsty Hall.
‘Quiver’ Kirsty Hall shown at ‘Prick Your Finger’, London (2009)
In her work she also deals with repetition and obsession using pins, knots, burnt matches. Her ‘Pin Series’ began in 2001 as performance and is ongoing in such sculptural pieces as ‘Scatter’ and ‘Quiver’ (2006) in which the sheer weight of pins affects the fabric which supports them. For me there is a fine dividing line in the work of both these artists. When, exactly, does an interest, idea or concern become an obsession or evident as obsessional or obsessional compulsive behaviours? As creative people I feel we all have obsessive traits otherwise how is the artwork nurtured, sustained or finalized? I have no immediate answers just a fascination with these artworks.
Submitted by Lesley Bricknell
Poplar Gallery.Online
CARE Canada
