Phoebe Silverton
Ascham School
HOME
Painting
Acrylic on Cardboard
To many, the space of a home provides comfort and belonging – a sanctuary within the currents of our everyday life. So where do we seek refuge when our home is uncertain? My body of work represents the ephemeral sense of ‘home’ experienced by those residing on the streets. Employing the fragile canvas of cardboard boxes, my work challenges the concept of an abode of safety which we as fortunate audiences are accustomed to. My intent is to evoke a renewed appreciation for the walls that innately protect and reassure us.
My artmaking practice has been influenced by the study and interpretation of the artist Daniel Butterworth.
Marker's Commentary
This powerful work entitled Home consists of three large scale acrylic paintings on discarded and flattened cardboard boxes. The sizable figure within each of the works elevates the overwhelming sensation of the homeless and how they seek refuge and comfort. There has been no attempt to hide the rough surface of the corrugated cardboard or worn areas of the boxes. Rather, it adds empathy and rawness, as if carrying the scars and memories whilst capturing these moments. Each subject is depicted within a context relevant to life on the streets. The painterly qualities are emotive and expressive in both gestural application of the paint and the textural attributes of various surfaces. The body of work is conceptually meaningful and expertly resolved with confidence and maturity in the use of media.