Caroline Attan

Día Desconocida | 2022

Día desconocida is an unknown day and the development of the relationship between different clashing colours which ultimately harmonise. Precision and scale enhance contrast, movement and rhythm allowing some circles of coloured folded forms to radiate and others to recede. The brightly coloured composition emerges above the written narrative as a partial expression of the content. Seasonal associations are expressed through the interplay of different tones and depth of colour.

The pictures reference complex narratives handwritten in Spanish and English selected from these Latin American poets, Coral Bracho, Juan Ortiz, Juan Luis Martinez, Elikkura Chihuailaf, Pablo Neruda and Octavio Paz. These poems communicate complex ideas whilst being expressive on an emotional, linguistic level. Coloured folded forms are arranged over the minute handwritten poetry creating intricate patterns inspired by Mexican and Peruvian weaving. Placed over a mathematical grid the text is partially concealed beneath folded forms culminating in a sculptural, circular composition. The folded forms reveal different patterns of light and shadow giving the work a three dimensional aspect transforming the grid into a mesmerising but subtly contemplative image.

The potential for developing my work further in scale, simplicity of form and construction was enhanced by works displayed at Dia Beacon, New York. I was overwhelmed by the folded white canvas shapes of Dorothea Rockburn and large scale overlapping geometric and brightly painted boards of Imi Knoebel. Michael Raedecker sews thread into his paintings so they are textural and three dimensional, full of brooding atmosphere and Kathy Butterfly’s deconstructed ceramic bowls allow strongly coloured glazes to spill over the plinth. Similar to my exhibited work these artists provide examples of explorative uses of materials which are not defined by conventional processes.

Viewed individually or as a group these pictures reveal a uniquely individual approach to communicating the depth and complexity of narrative whilst the overall effect pays homage to abstraction.

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Poetry, paradox and metaphor collide as coloured, patterned and folded structures interact creating a woven, textual narrative. Absorbed into a dense circular composition folded shapes rotate above a grid of hand written poetry. Latin American poetry selected from Coral Bracho, Juan Luis Martinez, Elikura Chihuailaf, Pablo Neruda and Octavio Paz are unsettling and exhilarating in their complexity. Culturally significant in context and language elements of the poems are interpreted through colour and rhythm. The visual and tactile impact of these works reference the dynamic and often clashing colours and complex patterns of Peruvian and Mexican woven textiles.

The sequence of hand written narrative is partially obscured by the folded paper forms as words and phrases pop out intermittently. Coloured, folded shapes weave complex and dynamic patterns, bright colours contrast with subtle tones and darker hues, illuminating the possibility of multiple futures. The large-scale circles invite an immersive experience as coloured folded forms simultaneously harmonise and clash in defiance of written language. Within these circular compositions, contradictions are revealed through oppositional elements: light and dark, background and foreground, large and small, revealed and concealed. The overall effect is of a sculptural, tactile, circular composition as the folded forms transform the grid into a dynamic force.

Smaller works allow for quieter contemplation, a private dialogue likened to ancient calligraphy, secrets not quite revealed but are yet to be discovered. Circular, reductive mono-tone compositions using only black, white, cream and other singular colours pulsate subtly through tone and texture encouraging the viewer to enter a private, calm place. The form of the circle allows for diversity and repetition, secure in its continuous rotation.

Selected Exhibitions

2022 Dia Desconocida, Solo Exhibition, October/November 2022, Northcote Gallery London

2022 Y Llega Siempre, Solo Show, 26th January - february 2022, Northcote Gallery London

2021 Sunstone, Solo Show, 24 July - 28 August, Railings Gallery, London

2020 Selected Work, 1 July - 30 September, Railings Gallery, London

2020 To Dream in this Valley, Solo Show, 2 May- 22 May, London

2019 Selected Work, 1-24 December, Railings Gallery, London

2019 These Fleeting Days, Solo Show, 12 April- 4 May, Railings Gallery, London

2018 Selected Work, 1-24 December, Railings Gallery, London

2018 AAF Battersea, 17-21 October, Northcote Gallery

2018 Selected Work, 1June- 28 July, Railings Gallery, London

2018 New Work, 21 March- 15 April, Northcote Gallery, London

2017 AAF Battersea, 18-22 October, Northcote Gallery

2017 Con Sonrisa, Solo Show, 11 March - 2 April, Northcote Gallery, London

2016 AAF Battersea, 19-23 October, Northcote Gallery

2016 El Sueño, Solo Show, 21January-16 February, Northcote Gallery, London

2015 AAF Battersea, 22-25 October, Northcote Gallery

2015 Summer Exhibition, 1 August- 11 September, The Gallery at ice, Windsor

2015 Breath of Fresh Air, Group Show, 23 April- 17 May, Byard Art, Cambridge

2015 Group Show, 31 March- 30 April, Northcote Gallery, London

2015 Selected Work exhibited at The Gallery at ice, Windsor

2015 AAF New York, 26-29 March, Bicha Gallery

2015 AAF Brussels, 6-9 February, Bicha Gallery

2014 AAF Singapore, 21-23 November, Bicha Gallery

2014 AAF Hamburg, 13-16 November, Bicha Gallery

2014 Art Toronto, 24-27 October, Bicha Gallery

2014 AAF Battersea, 23-26 October, Bicha Gallery

2014 AAF Stockholm, 2-5 October, Bicha Gallery

2014 KIAF, Korea International Art Fair, 25-29 September, Bicha Gallery, Seoul, Korea

2014 Art Southampton, 24-28 july, Bicha Gallery, NY, USA

2014 Art Hamptons, 11-13 July, Bicha Gallery, NY USA

2014 AAF Hampstead, Spring, 12-15 June, Bicha Gallery

2014 AAF New York, Spring, 2-6 April, Bicha Gallery

2014 AAF Hong Kong, 20-23 March, Bicha Gallery

2014 AAF Brussels, 6-10 February, Bicha Gallery

2014 London Art Fair, 14-19 January, Bicha Gallery

2013 AAF Singapore, 21-24 November, Bicha Gallery

2013 Cambridge City Art Fair, 14-17 November, My Life in Art

2013 AAF Battersea, 24-27 October, Bicha Gallery

2013 AAF Stockholm, 3-6 October, Bicha Gallery

2013 Buy Art, Manchester, 26-29 September, My Life in Art

2013 AAF Hampstead, 13-16 June, My Life in Art

2013 AAF Battersea, 6-10 March, My Life in Art

2013 Scream Gallery, work on consignment

2012 AAF Singapore, 15-18 November, Rebecca Hossack Art Gallery

2012 AAF Hampstead, 1-4 November, Rebecca Hossack Art Gallery

2012 Art Toronto, 26-29 October, Rebecca Hossack Art Gallery

2012 Young Collectors, 17 October- 2 November, Rebecca Hossack

Gallery, Mott Street, NYC

2012 AAF Fall, New York City, 4-7 October, Rebecca Hossack Art

Gallery

2012 Summer mixed show, 5 -31 August, 2012,

Rebecca Hossack Art Gallery, Mott Street, NYC

2012 Londinium Exhibition, Rebecca Hossack Art Gallery, Conway St.

2012 Art Hamptons , Rebecca Hossack Art Gallery, Hamptons, USA

2012 Art Melbourne, Rebecca Hossack Art Gallery

2012 Nature: Mixed Show, 5 May-2 June at Rebecca Hossack Art Gallery,

Conway Street

2012 AAF Battersea, Rebecca Hossack Art Gallery, London

2012 20/21 International Art Fair, Rebecca Hossack Art Gallery,

Royal College of Art, London

2012 Rebecca Hossack Art Gallery, Charlotte Street, London

2012 Catto Gallery, Hampstead, London

2012 London Art Fair, TAG Fine Arts Islington, London

2011 AAF Hampstead, TAG Fine Arts, London

2011 AAF Battersea, The Art Movement, London

2011 Art London, Chelsea, The Art Movement

2011 The Avenue Bar and Restaurant, The Art Movement, London

2011 AAFNYC Tag Fine Arts, New York City, USA.

2011 ‘Image to Object’ The Red Gate Gallery, London

2010 ‘Art in Mind’, The Brick Lane Gallery

2009 ‘The Discerning Eye Exhibition’, The Mall Galleries.

2009 The Islington Contemporary Art Fair

2008 ‘Water series’, Lauderdale House, London

1981 Degree Show, Winchester College of Art