Brass Gallery was proud to premiere the new body of paintings 'What Are You Then?' by artist Amanda Spawforth.
A little over a year since graduating from Huddersfield University, Amanda's work is already much sought after and collected, having already had her first solo international exhibition at Galerie Wolfsen in Denmark.
Her precocious talent addresses controversial subjects with humour, and an honesty to which we can all relate, particularly in her previous working themes 'A Series of Firsts', 'Innocence' and 'My Pet and I'.
'What Are You Then' examines adolescent subculture stereotypes.
This 'enfant terrible' isn't out to merely shock and embarrass, but to tell us things about how we are seen, and how we project ourselves and address the baggage that comes with being a so-called 'individual' within a group.
Amanda Spawforth in her own words:
"My new series of paintings is based on my own experiences of trying to find my own identity. Each of these paintings marks a particular period of experimentation during my adolescence.
"These paintings can also be seen as an investigation into the stereotypes associated with youth subcultures.
"I am intrigued firstly where the terms come from. Most of these seem to be derogative terms that each subculture has took on board themselves and wear like a badge of allegiance.
"From Chavs (Council Housed and Violent) to Goths, Emos (Emotional Hardcore) and Punks, these simple names denote a particular brand.
"In my work I will look closely at each brand and immerse myself into the particular sensibilities of each subculture in an exaggeration of my own experience. Each painting will become the antithesis of each subculture."
In the press
The Culture Vulture
Article:
So what are you then?
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The Leeds Guide
Article:
Amanda Spawforth: A very personal exhibition
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