Pixel Ink

In the Arms of Sleep

26 May – 28 October 2010 (note: Exhibition date change)

Opening night: Saturday 29 May 5.30 – 7.30pm (by invitation only)

Exhibition Statement:

“I lie in bed at night and the ideas start to flow just before I fall asleep – like a dream within a dream. This is the very essence of my inspiration for this exhibition, In the Arms of Sleep. Sometimes it takes me ages to get to sleep at night. Sometimes I will doze off on the couch hours before bed time. Sometimes I wake early then fall back into the dream world by accident. It often seems that this sleep state is out of my hands and in the arms of another.

In the Arms of Sleep is an exhibition which takes place in between being conscious and falling asleep. This fleeting dream-like state of being is fascinating to me because it is both romantic and imaginative. The paintings in this exhibition feature feminine figures sleeping, which appear to melt into surreal, almost abstract, backgrounds; experiencing dream-like states in which the unconscious mind slips in and out of reality.

I am particularly intrigued by instances in which a person finds themselves in a state they don’t want to be in. For example, a lucid dream where the dreamer is aware they are asleep but cannot wake up. This creates a feeling of entrapment and anxiety for the person sleeping, but to the observer they might appear perfectly peaceful. The alternative is where a person experiencing insomnia wants to sleep but can’t reach this desired state. This may also conjure feelings of entrapment and anxiety.

To an observer sleep appears to be an angelic, peaceful state. It may appear as an indulgence or even a luxury, but to the dreamer, underneath closed eyes it could also be a nightmare.”

- Roz 10

Artist Statement:

As an illustrator and artist, Rosalind Clark combines the charm of sketched line with the truth fullness of photo media as the foundation of her contemporary practice. Her work is
typically narrative and figurative, communicating deep emotive and metaphorical themes. She experiments with collage to achieve a balance of rough vs. detailed imagery. The result is a unique and engaging style developed through her academic study. She employs traditional, digital and mixed
media techniques to capture the audience using visual communication. Rosalind’s work is whimsical, etherial, emotive and raw.