Karen Ryan is best known for her inspired re-use of discarded furniture which she transforms into thought-provoking works. For this year's London Design Festival she takes over the Project Space at Marsden Woo Gallery in Clerkenwell to create 'Awkward', a visual exploration of the ignored. As she writes:
'Awkward is a portrait of social unease, constrained and vulnerable ... a life study in altering the anatomy of discarded chairs, drawing references to my own personal awkwardness.'
Her dynamic installation of cascading furniture can be likened to a spontaneous black and white drawing. Whittled chair skeletons precariously tumble out from deep black inked forms of discarded furniture. It is not a fixed tableau, but offers the possibility of rearrangement, as chairs may be detached from the composition to provide the alibi of entirely functional seating.
'Awkward' elevates dismissed artefacts by revealing their peculiar beauty, offering an affecting meditation on the way we create and use the objects that surround us. In the words of William Bostwick (ID Magazine Jan/Feb 2009):
"By shunning mass production, [Ryan's] work brings a spark of humanity into an increasingly impersonal world and a bit of artistic flair into industrial design."
Biographical notes
Karen Ryan is a contemporary British designer based in Portsmouth, England. She completed an MA in Design Products at the Royal College of Art in 2001. Her work has been exhibited widely in Europe, including Cubitt Gallery; Rabih Hage Gallery; Aram; Liberty's; 100% Design and Designersblock, London; Aspex Gallery, Portsmouth; Object Rotterdam; Salon de Meuble, Paris; and Rossana Orlandi, Milan. In 2009, her work was included in Li Edelkoort's Wish List exhibition and auction at Pierre Berge, Brussels.
Her most recent exhibitions have been 'Custom Made USA' presented by Balloon Contemporary at the 2010 Chicago Art Fair and 'Custom Made in England: Vanity Series' at the Spring Projects exhibition 'Straw Dogs' with Jake and Dinos Chapman, Hans Stofer and Jason Brooks in London, summer 2010.
Marsden Woo Project Space is curated by Tessa Peters
The Marsden Woo Project Space is an exciting new initiative running alongside our established programme of solo and small group exhibitions by gallery artists. MW Project Space allows us to respond quickly to significant bodies of innovative work and will be used to showcase the work of talented emerging artists and designers and fresh directions in the work of more established artists. These exhibitions are organized at short notice, so please check our website regularly for news on forthcoming shows and events.
For more information, images, or to arrange an interview with the artist please contact:
Tatjana Marsden or Alida Sayer Tel: 020 7336 6396 Fax: 020 7336 6391
email: press@marsdenwoo.com
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