unperceived existence unperceived existence Issue 2: Keren Shalev | Page 13

Curator's Note

Keren Shalev’s exhibition for unperceived existence is a physical

outpouring of her internal mental landscape. We are presented with

intimate portraits of moods and emotions drawn and painted in

monochrome colours – gritty charcoal, silky paint, shimmering graphite.

Textures are poured onto paper, sometimes shouting, though the

words are indiscernible.

As digital images this collection of drawings appear larger than life – brash and bold brush strokes dominate the paper creating linear and organic structures and shapes – yet in real life we are presented with drawings of a much more intimate scale. They draw us in, forcing us to move closer to them - as in reality the shouts are moody whispers.

In a space such as gallery shush this presents a particular dilemma. It is a

dominating space and there is a risk the drawings will be swallowed up -

lost amongst the brick with textures melting into textures. Yet the

harshness of the bare brick also complements the rawness of the drawings.

The curatorial premise became how to provide a structure for the drawings

to hang while also creating enough distance from the gallery walls to give

them the space they needed to breathe. The result uses a simple system of

wooden beams which play with shadows and structure, mirroring the

themes drawn from Shalev’s drawings and giving them a platform for each

mood and whisper to be discerned.

Laura Bradshaw-Heap

September 2018