Transition

 

 

 

 

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Fontanelle
Paul Becker

January 15 – February 6 2005 1-6pm
Private View – Friday January 14 6-9pm

Leda
In his paintings, Paul Becker uses the interaction of human and animal as the basis for a dysfunctional narrative that threads its way ambiguously through a series of heavy anxieties, childhood fears and differing emotional states. These sometimes indeterminate representations and subfusc, crepuscular tones tread a shaky line between nightmare and sweet dream.

The drawings, shown for the first time at Transition, follow this same line; using a semi-familiar children’s illustration archetype to offer security and comfort but also mystery, equivocation even violence.

It is left to us to decipher whether these drawn and painted scenes are meant to represent an alternate reality or part of the dream. Figures seem passive (often sleeping), animals appear benign, but the disturbing juxtapositions of gentleness and implicit menace only serve to make events too indeterminate for us to fathom.

In the corners there is light/ That is good for you/
And behind you, I have told you,/ There are awful things
You Will Miss Me When I Burn - Palace
Paul Becker was educated at The Slade. His first solo show was at the Chapter Gallery in Cardiff in 2003. He curated …sympathy at Keith Talent and G39 in Cardiff in the same year. Most recent group shows include If You go Down to the Woods Today at The Rockwell Project, The Relaxed Audience or Why We Are So Wise at Jeffrey Charles and PCP at MOT. This is his first solo show in London.