EXHIBITION: Journey

Binny Mathews Tour of works:

Saturday 7 February 11am

Saturday 14 February 11am

Tickets £6

 Sladers Yard t: 01308 459511

Four years ago, two acclaimed artists embarked on a project which would change the way each of them worked.

When successful portrait painter Binny Mathews had the idea of painting another artist at work, observing their most private creative moments and recreating the atmosphere of absolute concentration within the studio, she approached her friend the sculptor Clare Trenchard. Clare agreed for one month on condition there would be no talking and no lunching (they are both tremendous talkers and lunchers.) The arrangement continued for four transformational years.

Sculptor Clare Trenchard – whose spirited sculpture in bronze captures the essence of animals and wild hare-humans – gradually began to explore making human figures in ceramic inspired by Moroccan travellers and nomadic people in harsh landscapes. The electrifying ‘Representatives’ are taller than life-size with flapping robes, headdresses and undefined faraway faces. In maquette they are also a delight whether gathering in groups or single. Clare’s drawings revel in the distinctive humorous, decorative qualities of travellers on donkey, old women gossiping in the marketplace, figures in the dust and wind. While other drawings define the thrilling figures she has developed as sculpture.