MALCA SCHOTTEN: COASTAL FORMS & LANDSCAPES

Norwich artist Malca Schotten’s practice is predominantly drawing — large-scale and high energy. We are pleased to welcome Malca Schotten back for her 3rd solo exhibition at Mandell’s Gallery.

PRIVATE VIEW

Sat 25 Mar 2-5pm

ONGOING ART EXHIBITION

Mon 27 Mar – 15 Apr 2017 10-5pm (Mon-Sat)

ARTIST’S STATEMENT

My work is about life, labour, documentation. It uses dynamic form, movement, life and energy. My drawings are carefully crafted yet raw and expressive, emerging from a primal response to the subject, using my visual and emotional memory to develop the work, representing the subject in its essence. I am committed to a journey of exploring the subject matter, and to my mastery of drawing.

I am inspired by the everyday, by stories of people and what they do, social and public issues, their heritage and cultural identity, the way they live, the elements – a natural and social commentary. This way of working means getting very close in to the subject matter, living with it, talking with it, touching it. For me drawing is an endlessly challenging and compulsive practice, as each subject demands a new approach and reassessment of previous working methods. It is a critical means of communication for me, a visual language which enables me to comment on the world and what I find interesting about it.

Previously I have worked with older people – my last big project ‘I’m Not Dead Yet’ invited people of over 60 years to sit while I drew. From these sittings came a series of studies for large-scale finished pieces. I encouraged the sitters to share stories about their lives which I worked into their image. Older people are often ignored, waiting for the end of their days. In the past, I have also captured distinctive Norfolk trades, also in danger of dying out, on large-scale pieces of paper.