JULIE DERBYSHIRE
Possession
Possession is the culmination of an investigation into the implications of scamming, showing photographic work of the artist's fabricated objects and bringing a new voice to an increasingly disturbing social issue. Informed by the Dutch 'Pronkstilleven' (17th century still life paintings extollng wordly affluence) and the 'Vanitas' tradition of conveying the tension between the temptation and emptiness of worldly possessions, the artist employs still lifes as a commentary on modern consumerism, its excesses and pitfalls. Iterations of wealth, value and exorbitance range from a chandelier made from imitation jewellery hoarded by a victim of scamming to more conceptual objects that make reference to the conflict between the lure of perceived beauty and the unsettlng and ugly effects on those vulnerable to coercion. A series of handmade paper porcelain envelopes bearing extracts of text commonly used in scamming schemes references the relentless and insidious nature of correspondence that victims of such practices are exposed to. Made from a material historically prized for its combination of strength and fragility, the envelopes allude to the transition from seemingly harmless words to the secrecy and complicity engulfing their recipients. The small scale sculptures in the series (Dis)equilibrium use multiple materials and forms, photographed in a state of momentary suspense, balanced but anticipating change or collapse, alluding to fragility, lack of balance and the inequality of forces. Giclée Prints on Canson Baryta, Diasec and Aluminium mounted Limited Edition

©JulieDerbyshire 2020