A brand new exhibition on the Isle of Wight - showcasing the work of two emerging contemporary artists - will launch this time next week.
DAZZLE & DISRUPT will take over three gallery spaces - drawing inspiration from historical Dazzle camouflage and its relationship to the Island’s maritime heritage.
Delayed for almost a year since the first lockdown in 2020, Dazzle + Disrupt explores works by artists Jeannie Driver and Lisa Traxler, focusing on themes of perception, disorientation and disruption, instigated through the investigation of the Dazzle phenomenon.
As previously reported by Isle of Wight Radio Lisa Traxler and her husband, who live in the Second World War Bunker in St Lawrence, opened it up last summer for Islanders to take part in a one-off "creative pilgrimage".
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Dazzle was invented in 1917 by marine artist Norman Wilkinson. Wilkinson’s ‘Dazzle’ designs were used to disrupt and disorientate German U-boats at sea during the First World War by painting British and Allied ships in striking geometric patterns.
By the end of the First World War thousands of merchant ships and hundreds of naval vessels had been ‘Dazzled’ in what constituted the world’s
largest public art and design display.
The masterful and dazzling effect this had on its onlooker – questioned where they were positioned, its scale, its shape and distance. So much uncertainty of what we are seeing and where we are positioned, draws comparisons to our current emotions towards the pandemic and feelings of
isolation and the unknown in 2020 and 2021.
The new commissions form the main exhibition in the West Gallery with sculptural works, film, installations and wall murals, while our adjacent Clayden Gallery provides information on the story of Dazzle, together with the artist’s preparatory works, revealing their creative processes through sketchbooks, maquettes and research notes, as well as response works made by Gurnard Primary school.
Works in the Café show 2D works on paper by the Driver and Traxler - making further exploration into the line, drawing, shape and form, referencing their installation works.
Driver considers the space of the gallery as material and investigates the relationship between audience and artwork. Installations have been developed in response to Dazzle concepts and design with a focus on scale and perception.
Traxler explores the concept of perspective and spatial awareness in her newly commissioned works alongside an exploration of materials from cut paper drawings to vitreous enamelled steel and hand painted wood sculptures.
Unlocking online takes place on Saturday 27 March and includes interviews with the artists, talking about their process and preparation for the exhibition; a 360 virtual tour of the gallery; slideshows of 2D works for sale, as well as more information to come, such as online resources and more talks and a book launch with the artists!
Find more details about the event here.
You can watch a video of Isle of Wight Radio's Iona visit to Lisa Traxler's bunker last year below...
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