Gail Barlow (Member)
In 1999, I devoted myself to art full time and graduated in 2003 with a first class honours degree in Fine Art and Photography. During this time I started making paper sculptures using the 'Sliceform’ method and this has now become my main way of constructing paper pieces. I am pleased to have made this decision as it led to exhibiting at the Royal Academy Summer Show in 2004. I discovered the Sliceform method in a Tarquin publication, produced by John Sharp, and believe it is an ideal way to make use of colour and form. Their 'skeleton' cross sections make the piece appear solid due to the brains interpretation of the structure. They are very flexible and can even be folded flat and re-formed much to the delight of the onlooker. Each side of the paper enables four faces to interact together to make subtle or dramatic pieces.
Although I consider the paper sculpture as an art form in itself I also like to explore the 3D structures in 2D. I do this through the medium of enhanced photography. I take photographs with a digital SLR camera mounted on a specialist tripod. The tripod enables me to place the camera at any angle and very close to the sculptures. Through the lens they become wonderful colourful 'landscapes' showing depth and contrast. Careful lighting can create soft or hard shadows enhancing their 3D qualities. Adobe Photoshop enhance the photographs which, although time consuming, I find it artistically rewarding. The images are then printed in limited editions with pigment inks on archival paper.
Early in 2008 I upgraded my camera equipment to a 21 megapixel digital SLR and 5 specialist lenses; giving me a range of focal lengths from 16mm to 300mm. One lens is a macro allowing photographs at 5 times life size. Concentrating purely on photography over the past few months has been a revelation. The 5 times life size macro opens up a whole new hidden world; much like the exploration of “landscapes” in the paper sculptures. Other subjects I find fascinating are reflections and shadows, particularly if the image is fragmented into patterns.
Works displayed and commissions
Private works in London, Lincolnshire, Hertfordshire, Derbyshire and Yorkshire.
‘Genospice 1 & 2’. Two number canvases 11ft x 4ft at Barnsley College Learning Centre, Barnsley.
Commissioned triptich for staircase of Draefern Ltd, Chesterfield with Colin Stevens
Commissioned series of prints for Designed Management Ltd, London.
Past exhibitions
Derby Sketching Club Guildhall Exhibition October 1997
Derby Sketching Club Rose Bowl Exhibition 1998 - Highly Commended piece
Neuhaus Group Exhibition, Wirksworth Art and Architecture Trail 2001
Oils Studio Group Exhibition, Deptford, London, November 2003
RoyalAcademy Summer Exhibition, London, Summer 2004
Great Christmas Art Fair, AlexandraPalace, London, November 2006
Article on Sliceforms and my paper sculptures in the February issue of “Hyperseeing”, an American magazine produced by ISAMA (The International Society of the Arts, Mathematics, and Architecture)
Untitled Gallery Exhibition, Adam Street Private Members Club 2 - 8 April 2007
Hertfordshire Contemporary Art Show, Ware, Hertfordshire, 5 - 7 May 2007
Untitled Gallery Exhibition, Adam Street Private Members Club 22nd October - 4 November 2007
Morph Exhibition, DerbyMuseum and ArtGallery, 2 February – 23 March 2008