The ARX presents Exquisite Corpse, a solo exhibition by Canadian artist Raine Storey, on view over Frieze London. Derived from a phrase that resulted when the Surrealists first played the game, "Le cadavre exquis boira le vin nouveau" ("The exquisite corpse shall drink the new wine”), Storey seeks to unveil new waves of thinking, seeing, acting and feeling, reflective of the movement at the turn of the 20th century. Many of the exhibited works were created during Storey’s artist residency at The ARX gallery during Summer 2022, and during August spent creating from a studio in Paris.
Drawn in three steps: the ‘Exquisite Corpse’ is segmented into the head, torso and legs. A piece of paper is folded into sections so the proceeding portions are concealed. Once opened, the final piece reveals a unique character. Having played the game in her childhood with her artist Grandfather and mentor, Derek Woodhead (1934-2022), Storey utilised this method as a preliminary exercise for her exhibited paintings, as a means to liberate herself from conscious control (Realism) and express the unconscious control (Abstract) allowing the subconscious to express itself more directly on canvas. Elements from these eccentric figures were then used to build her compositions.
The exhibition comprises a wall of thirty-four ‘Exquisite Corpse’ framed sketches reminiscent of café walls in Montparnasse’s creative heyday. During the early 1900s in Paris, artists such as Jean Arp, Max Ernst, André Masson, René Magritte, Yves Tanguy, Salvador Dalí and Joan Miró would occupy a table all evening without interruption. Arguments fuelled by intellect or alcohol, filled infamous establishments. Those who were unable to pay their bill offered drawings which were held until the artist could pay. As such, there were times when these café walls were littered with fantastic art collections. The hang of Storey’s drawings reflects these jewel boxes of Bohemian Paris.
“I often receive comments about a ‘Daliesque’ manner to my work. My last visit with my Grandfather was to the Dalí museum in St. Petersburg, Florida, where I saw the transcendence of inspiration to his practice and then from his work to mine”. Storey’s English Grandfather Derek played a pivotal role in the development of her practice, instilling the phrase, “Rainy days are studio days”, and training her eye to capture the world around her.
The artist’s strong draftsmanship is demonstrated in the works presented in Exquisite Corpse. Storey’s evolved style captures abstract concepts with a complete freedom of composition and colour, partnered with the sublime realism of her figures. This balance of Abstract / Realism is evident in pieces such as Meat Heads, Flash in the Pan and Duty Free where her Exquisite Corpse sketches come to life in jovial scenes.
Press enquiries: Becky Bosworth | becky@thearx.com
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