As the final days of our current exhibition 'MARY & ME' by Ces McCully draws to a close, we want to take the opportunity to reflect on our favourite picks from the show and the artists overall motives and inspirations that inspire her unique, reflective, and daring creative practice.
The series of text-based works featured in 'MARY & ME' are both autobiographical reflection and cultural commentary. McCully explores the opposing natures of vulnerability and honesty with the digital feed, filled with memes, inciting headlines and ‘authentic’ moments of strangers. Her own personal experiences of isolation jarring with the perfect glow of social media. Her words point fun at the ridiculousness of the situations we find ourselves in and the thoughts we have, brutally honest and tongue in cheek.
The exhibition title ‘MARY & ME’ is a nod to the confessional nature of the works. By putting these statements out there, McCully asks the viewer for forgiveness and understanding. Perhaps seeing ourselves in these works, we feel a little less alone in our thoughts.
McCully’s choice of bright colours and textures adds to the fun, whimsical nature of the works. Almost childlike, harking back to primary school days and children’s TV; the block colours add an innocence to the statements, reminding the viewer that as brutally honest as they are, they are not to be taken too seriously.
One of the works that truly encapsulates the voice of the exhibition and highlights the feelings we all felt over the pandemic is 'Help I'm Bored Again'.
The work includes Ces McCully's repeated colour palette that can be seen in all the textural works produced by the artist. By using the same colours for the corresponding letters throughout the works, the artist can express her unique visual language. The large typography and chalkboard style background, allows the viewer to return to memories of childhood and vulnerability. To ask for 'help' with boredom does allude to a childlike comment but we can all relate to feeling helpless ourselves during recent moments of adversity and the unknown.
Due to the words themselves being separated across the canvas plane, the viewer is invited to look deeper, to decipher the meaning and relate their own personal circumstance and position to the work. The statement isn't obvious to begin with, much like an undeveloped thought that isn't fully formed to express to our peers. Ces McCully has constructed through her text pieces a format to form a complex connection with the viewer and her own experiences.
Alongside her text pieces in this collection of works, McCully has included three abstract paintings. You can read further about the abstract work that depicts the artists self-portrait here:
Ces McCully - Truth and Fiction
The abstract works have a different, contrasting feel to them. The repetition of the shapes gives a mediative effect to the paintings. There is an intriguing quality to the paintings. The abstract works create landscapes of colour and shapes which entice and intrigue the viewer. Curatorially, the abstract paintings in the exhibition provide a contrast between the text-based works and allows for a different perspective from the artist.
39 3/8 x 31 1/2 in
The exhibition finishes this Saturday at 6pm. The gallery will open on Saturday at 12 pm. The exhibition is free entry and there is no need to book.
If you would like to receive a pricelist of the works that we have available from this showcase you can contact us at info@rhodescontemporaryart.com or alternatively you can call us on +44 (0)20 7240 7909.
