Detail, ‘Plastiglomer-pyrite’, cyanotype, copper sulfate, paint on linen. 40x30cm
6th – 28th February 2018
Lustre
Private views:
Tuesday February 6th 6.30 – 8.30pm
Thursday February 8th 6.30 – 8.30pm
Sunday February 11th 12.00 – 3.00pm
Open Days
Wednesday February 14th, 21st & 28th 12.00– 6.00pm
Viewing by appointment at other times.
For further information contact Jonathan Ross: Phone 07747 807576
or jross@gallery286.com
Matt Gee’s exhibition Lustre explores the artist’s mission to subvert and imitate phenomena that arise from humankind’s long-term traces on the environment.
The viewer is presented with a range of mixed-media artworks incorporating a variety of glazes, shimmers and glows associated with natural phenomena such as volcanic rock, pyrite and crystals, but also urban materials such as spray paint, imitation gold and fired clay. The show is ultimately based on a new geological epoch known as Anthropocene.
The Anthropocene age signifies the beginning of significant human impact on the earths geology and, conceptually for the purpose of this exhibition, it is used to articulate a moment where objects become indistinguishable as either natural or artificial.
The epitome of this is Plasticglomerate, a tragic, yet fascinating symbol of the extent to which human intervention has become embedded in the natural world. This rock consists of sedimentary grains and lava, and is held together by molten plastic. It is formed from excessive levels of plastic being washed up on the beach and melting into lava streams, and because the plastic is not biodegradable it can even become fossilized, leaving behind a legacy of waste.
In a series of 24 cyanotypes, various pieces of Plasticglomerate, ‘Detroit Agate’, have become generically unified with images of studio sculptures and crystal growing projects. Negatives of all of these are laid on paper laced with a photosensitive mix of ammonium iron(III) citrate and potassium ferricyanide, and then exposed to sunlight, creating a synonymous portrayal of both studio based projects, and objects resulting from the Anthropocene.
Pyrite and Geodes are a recurring motif for imitation in this exhibition. Pyrite is labeled by society as ‘Fools gold’ and acts as the fake gold at Legoland. One might wonder why should a mineral be categorised as a substitute when it is an alluring natural material in its own right? Matt Gee sees geodes, with their modest appearance on the outside, and sparkly insides as a metaphor for a chance encounter, or a symbolic subversion of society’s cliché: Style over Substance.
Gee creates his Glazed Ceramic Geodes by firing clay to a temperature of 1200 degrees, a heat reminiscent of the actual volcanic lava which creates cavities in which natural geodes form. The fired clay shells are then encrusted with Copper Sulfate which, left to grow in a controlled studio environment sheltered from the elements, develops crystals upon the sculptures’ surfaces in a simulation of the natural process.
In this exhibition, Matt Gee continues to explore issues and materials previously encountered in his 2015 exhibition, Nutri-Artifice, at Gallery 286, with the addition of ceramic and pre-digital photographic elements to his practice. The results are both intellectually stimulating and visually seductive.
Matt Gee's CV
EDUCATION
2010-2012 Wimbledon College of Art- MA Fine Art
2007-2010 Norwich University of the Arts, UK- BA Fine Art- (2.1)
2006-2007 Farnham University of the Creative Arts, UK- Art Foundation- (Distinction)
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2015 Matt Gee : Nutri Artifice, Gallery 286, London
2015 Matt Gee : Natural Simulations, Husk Gallery, London
RESIDENCIES
2015 Fljotstunga Art Residency, Fljotstunga (Husafell), Iceland
2009 Staatliche Akademie der Bildenden Kunste (Art Academy), Karlsruhe, Germany
CURATORIAL
2015 SWOOSH. , Rum Factory Project Space Wapping (Bow Arts), London
2014 Post Canvas Assmembly, Function Gallery, London
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2017
Inner_Other, Gossamer Fog, London
Window Sill, Griffin Gallery (Perimeter space), London
Future Histories, Project Space Wapping, London
Undead Painters Flash Salon III, Saturation Point, London
2016
Christmas Show, Gallery 286, London
Brainchild X Sonido Tropico, Micks Garage, Hackney Wick, London
Undead Painters Forum II, ASC Gallery, New Cross, London
The Bow Open, Nunnery Gallery, London
Art Shorts (part of Valletta Film Festival), Cafe Society, Malta
Of The Sea, The Historic Dockyard Chatham, Chatham
BYOB (by Brainchild Festival), Platform Southwark, London
cueB Open 2016, cubeB Gallery, London
2015
Things We Didn’t Have Before, Pump House Gallery, London
Toys (Are Us), The Crypt at St Pancras Church, London
Art Naked Frieze Week Exhibition, Library Members Club, London
Triad Frieze Week Auction, Triad Gallery, London
Undead Painters Forum, ASC Gallery, New Cross, London
Uprooted, Redlees Gallery, London
Pop Living, Schwartz Gallery, London
2014
Synthesis Cuts: Matt Gee/ Halina Rice (A-V Collaboration), Art Lacuna, London
Passion for Freedom, Embassy Tea Gallery, London
The Artfordable Fair, 13 The Gallery, London
Trispace Print Fair, Trispace Gallery, The Biscuit Factory, London
Stick em up, Husk, London
POST CANVAS ASSEMBLY (Curated by Matt Gee), Function Gallery (The Miller), London
2013
Open 2013, Peckham Space, London
Novelty, Asylum, London
Recovery, City Arts, Nottingham
Moving up, Galerie Vernon, Prague
Art Lacuna Prize, Art Lacuna, London
Not a Drop, 47-49 Tanner Street, London
Weather, Team Titanic Gallery, Berlin
Cartographies, The Crypt- St Martins in the Fields, London
Hot One Hundred, Schwartz Gallery, London
Remember Paradise (Inaugural exhibition), HUSK (Departure), London
Collision, Nancy Victor Gallery, London
2012
Part Two of Wrong door pop up project, Wrong door gallery, London
Art is for life not just for christmas, Cultivate Gallery, London
Wrong door pop up project, Wrong door Gallery, Broadway market, London
Kiss the future, Schwartz Gallery, London
Paper Nautilus, Nautilus press, London
Making things you normally wouldn’t make, Utrophia (Deptford X), London
Out of the Stable, Greenwich, London
Launch-Ceremony, Wimbledon space, London
What does your screen smell like?, The Garage, London
Zen Garden, Residence Gallery, London
Artist of Tomorrow Awards, Debut Contemporary, London
On Fire, Vauxhall fire station, London
Odds Against Tomorrow, Bearspace Gallery, London
Inclusions, The Stone Space, London
Memoria Technica, The Nunnery, London
InandOutBoard, Le Sorelle, London
2011
Stockholm Fringe Festival, Stockholm, Sweden
Outdoor sculpture exhibition, St Georges Gallery, London
Platform C: Emerging Art Show,The Vyner Street Gallery, London
Darling Buds, Parlour Project Space, London
Futura Bold, Futura Oblique, The Nunnery, London
2010
Hackney Wood Art Prize, The Residence Gallery, London
UFO Art Trail, Latitude Festival, Suffolk.
NUCA Degree Show 2010, Norwich
Real Phony, Colegate, Norwich
Resort, The Residence Gallery, London
Elements- Man and the Environment, The Forum, Norwich
2009
Showcase, Café 1001, London
Summer Exhibition, Kunstakademie, Karlsruhe, Germany
Suche WG Zimmer, Lichthof, Karlsruhe, Germany
Bread and Butter, R.K Burt Gallery, London
Bidder Bidder Bidder- EAST Project, Project Space, Norwich
The Late Shift, Sainsbury Centre For Visual Arts, Norwich
We have nothing to say– EAST Project, Project Space, Norwich
2008
Hans Brinker Budget Trophy, Hans Brinker, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Doctor Who Exhibition, Earls Court, London
2007
UCCA Students of Distinction show, The Maltings, Surrey Farnham
UCCA end of year show, Farnham UCCA, Surrey
AWARDS
2012 Shortlisted- Jealous Print Prize
2012 Shortlisted- Debut Contemporary Artists of Tomorrow
2009 British Council Erasmus essay certificate of merit winner
PRESS
Aesthetica Magazine – Interview and review on Matt Gee: Nutri Artifice, Gallery 286
Wall Street International – Review on Matt Gee: Nutri-Artifice, Gallery 286.
ArtLyst – Three young London Artists exhibiting in July – Article about Solo Show at Gallery 286
TRACTION Magazine – Interview on Solo Exhibtion at Husk Gallery (Natural Simulations)
The TRIAD – Review on Solo Exhibition at Husk Gallery (Natural Simulations)
REVma-/+ – Interview on Solo Exhibition at Husk Gallery (Natural Simulations)
Thvundermag Madrid – Artist of the Day feature.
Mo Studior – In Conversation with Matt Gee
South London Art Map – Interview on Curatorial project Post Canvas Assembly
SW Radio – interview on upcoming projects
PUBLICATIONS
Looking at Painting (Volume II) – Feature on work Pollen Microbe
Euro Digest -Cover Image for October / November Issue
Galleries Magazine (August 2015) – Feature and review on Matt Gee:Nutri-Artifice, Gallery 286.
AXIS NOTES 2015– Feature with Synthetic Agate Slices Elevating.
NUCA 2012 University prospectus – Degree show work featured.
Evening Standard Online – Trophy, from 2011 MA interim show featured.
Raum, Something to do with staples, Exhibition and book, The Netherlands
EAST International 2010 Catalogue, Two East Projects worked on and contributed work to Norwich Gallery in collaboration with artists from East International 2010.