Chris Slowe's Curatorial Choices

I have loved helping the curatorial team for 'The Magic of The Real' select works from the open call submissions as well as supporting the L.O.V.E. Art curatorial team with judging, this has however made the curators choice even more difficult. In no particular order: 

A Quiet Light by Steph Jansen

There's so much going on with this piece, like a snapshot of some ever-changing environment, multiple layers, movement, your eyes drawn in and then taken off to another fascinating area. Then you realise that it's not a painting, or whatever medium you thought it was, it's felt and wool and a whole load of other textiles! A must-see in real life.

Anemoia by Macha Barnden

Combined with the accompanying uterus this feels like one of the most personal pieces selected this year, the artist appears to be beautifully and bravely, addressing loss visually in a way we, in our society, find it very difficult to talk about in words.

Borderline by Sam Cartwright

There's something prehistoric about this piece - it's vital and living, very physical. Even the (9ft long!) canvas is tactile. It's abstract but the figurative is hinted at - faces, figures and organic matter aren't identifiable but definitely present.

Happy Days by Ellie Lovett

I read the title after I saw the piece but again it's another piece that captures movement and hints at being figurative but I was seeing war, a mass of troops charging into battle, or rockets being fired en masse. I think from Ellie's other pieces, and having read the title (and noticed the bunting!) that it's much more about celebration. Still, it definitely captures a lot of energy, really well.

Crepuscular Figure 1 by Kendrick Snodin

This piece captures a lot about English mythology for me, a combination of a ghostly but very present figure and the landscape feels like a knight fearlessly setting out on his own into the eternal twilight.