Opening Reception: Friday, May 24 | 6-9 pm
Exhibition Dates: May 19 - July 14, 2024 |
ABOUT THE EXHIBITION
There Have Been Developments, features new abstract paintings by Alexandra Flood. These works delve into the intricate collective psychology experienced during our dizzying time in human history.
These paintings explore a nonlinear deconstruction of the narratives we are playing out and have witnessed- The news cycles, blockbuster movies, pop music of the MTV 80s, the dial-up 90s, and the socially connected world of the 21st Century.
Key to this exploration is Flood’s dedically spirited approach to painting. She uses bold movements and gestures like a rock band uses amplifiers at Lalapalooza. It is as if, Flood’s mark-making is akin to that music festival frontman, and instead of belting out lyrics, she’s letting us into her internal monologue while painting. She is asking, “How did we get here?”.
The curious thing about internal monologues is how the emphasis, tone, and emotional state shift as we ask ourselves the question. How did we get here? How did we get here? We can see Alexandra Flood tackle this flipping of perspective through a wide use of colour- Some paintings feature bold, fully saturated surfaces that dance with dense hues while other works are more muted, nostalgic, and tempered. In either case, Alexandra Flood is capturing memories of our history and translating them through art history.
ALEXANDRA FLOOD (b.1969)
Alexandra is a graduate of OCAD University, and in addition, she studied painting at the National Academy School of Fine Arts in New York, and Turps Art School in London, England. She relocated to Ottawa after spending eight years in England, and before 2012 she was based in New Brunswick. Her work has been presented in solo and group shows across North America and Europe, and she has been recognized by national and international organizations with awards and honours for her work, including the Delphina Studios Trust, London, England, and the Canada Council for the Arts. Alexandra is a 4-time Longlist of the Sobey Award, and her work is in numerous collections across Canada and the UK.