| Over the last 6 years Lesley Halliwell has become known for her large scale, industrious Spirograph drawings.
Using a child's simple Spirograph kit she has greedily drawn the same motif, over and over again, usually within circular or grid-like structures. The process produces moments of chance that have to be dealt with, yet, within all the works there is a planned sense of order which is allowed to continue until the system breaks down. For example, ink runs dry, pens slip or paper tears.
Over the years the work has become less about the nostalgia for the Spirograph itself and more about the application of (the same) marks on paper. However, the drawings continue to be a celebration of process; a process which is, like a long distance walk, not only labour intensive but also tedious, banal and uncomfortable. Ironically the toy, with its origin in play, fun and games, has been subverted into an instrument of mental and physical torment. These large scale obsessive works are feats of endurance, titled by the length of time they took to make.
Halliwell transforms the ready-made format of the Spirograph and everyday materials (Biros) into works which gently hover between a playfulness that we all recognise and a sophistication that comes from her focused and obsessive application. |
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Lesley Halliwell studied Fine Art at Nottingham Trent University
(BA Hons 1989) and Manchester Metropolitan University (MA 2001). She also has an MA in Art History from Goldsmith's College, London (1995).
Recent exhibitions include a solo shows at Touchstones, Rochdale (2008) and BLOCspace, Sheffield (2006) and a two person show at VINEspace, Vyner Street, London (2006). She was a finalist in Pizza Express Prospects (2004), exhibited in Bloomberg's New Contemporaries (2002) and has been nominated for Beck’s Futures (2003).
Lesley Halliwell is a Visiting Lecturer at the University College Chester and works from a studio base in Manchester (www.suite-studiogroup.co.uk)
ABOUT HIVE
The Hive Gallery is a new contemporary gallery situated within Elsecar Heritage Centre in Barnsley, South Yorkshire. It features a diverse rolling programme of contemporary visual art. The HIVE programme ranges from supporting emerging contemporary artists to exhibiting the work of nationally and internationally known artists.
HIVE is part of a gallery and studio project created by Creative Barnsley, a social enterprise which aims to network and promote the creative sector in Barnsley and South Yorkshire. We have received invaluable support and funding from Creative Exchange: South Yorkshire which works in partnership with communities and the Creative and Digital Industries to build the creative economy in South Yorkshire and beyond. Visit www.creativebarnsley.co.uk to find out more. |
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