Ngaire Dignan: Artist
I take a style or theme and play with it to explore the possibilities, associations and meanings. Sometimes I will reuse, explore and experiment with one idea for years. My paintings are often in 2 or 3 panels shown as one.
I am not really interested in being didactic. I want to make work that stimulates association and interpretation so it is more like a conversation than a statement.
For example, I hope my paintings of drapery and textiles in close up could imply the body. Be it carnal or visceral, feminine or masculine, playful or poetic. They could alternatively be a conversation about dress codes and therefore morals, growing up, pressures to cover or uncover our bodies.
The idea of rendered fur has come from a similar place as the fabric paintings. I don’t know what it is exactly that attracts me to aspects of historic paintings and old techniques. But I have always enjoyed tracing my fingers over lush sumptuous clothes in coffee table books, It was something I enjoyed doing even as a young child, wearing away the pages. So there is hopefully an echo of recognition and memory in the viewer of these fur and fabric paintings if they are familiar with pre-1900 western painting, all those lovely fur collars, muffs and voluminous ladies dresses.
In addition for us in the 21st century “fur” symbolises warmth, sexiness, utility or extravagance. From another angle there are the issues around vivisection, cruelty to animals, farming practises, hunting and greed.
I am currently working on my response to Catalunya after living here for 8 months.
Links: e-mail me
I am not really interested in being didactic. I want to make work that stimulates association and interpretation so it is more like a conversation than a statement.
For example, I hope my paintings of drapery and textiles in close up could imply the body. Be it carnal or visceral, feminine or masculine, playful or poetic. They could alternatively be a conversation about dress codes and therefore morals, growing up, pressures to cover or uncover our bodies.
The idea of rendered fur has come from a similar place as the fabric paintings. I don’t know what it is exactly that attracts me to aspects of historic paintings and old techniques. But I have always enjoyed tracing my fingers over lush sumptuous clothes in coffee table books, It was something I enjoyed doing even as a young child, wearing away the pages. So there is hopefully an echo of recognition and memory in the viewer of these fur and fabric paintings if they are familiar with pre-1900 western painting, all those lovely fur collars, muffs and voluminous ladies dresses.
In addition for us in the 21st century “fur” symbolises warmth, sexiness, utility or extravagance. From another angle there are the issues around vivisection, cruelty to animals, farming practises, hunting and greed.
I am currently working on my response to Catalunya after living here for 8 months.
Links: e-mail me
