Art / Centrespace Gallery
Debut exhibition for self-taught contemporary artist Kim Piffy
Self-taught contemporary artist Kim Piffy presents her debut exhibition at Centrespace on January 30-February 2, with an all-day launch party on January 29.
There are eight artworks on view – a tapestry and seven collages constructed from fabric scraps, esoteric drawings and paintings amassed over the years.
Together, they take audiences on a hypnotic journey that aims to be almost synaesthetic, such is its size, and bombardment of colour, symbolism, texture and pattern.
is needed now More than ever
Piffy’s aesthetic is one of “overflowing dynamism”, at once “bold, modern and deliberately imperfect”. Though the pieces feature some scrawled words and doodles, there is an overarching personal narrative running through the collection.
“From the initial carelessness and hedonism of youth (Delinquency) which brings to light the flaws of the ego (Vanity),” explains Piffy, “I am led to a state of contemplation that ultimately enables a new formation of morals and identity (Transcendence).”
Kim Piffy, Delinquency UV – photo: Ian Jevon
Throughout the collection, Piffy takes us on “a figurative adventure to test the limit of her experience”.
It is a highly intimate story that includes her physical recovery and personal growth following a physical assault, as well as her creative response to the pandemic.
Nevertheless, the pieces are abstract enough to provide wide scope for personal interpretation and relatability: “It could be applied to anybody’s life,” she affirms.
Kim Piffy, Kattabasis UV – photo: Ian Jevon
The launch party for I am Piffy, which will be soundtracked by jungle, DnB and house music, moves from day into night with a slow progression into ultraviolet light, throwing the canvases into a rather different realm.
The shift from natural to UV light serves to reflect the bridge between the inner thoughts and the outer world – “the eternal contrast between conscious and subconsious,” says Piffy.
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I Am Piffy – the launch event, is on January 29 at Centrespace, 6 Leonard Lane, Bristol, BS1 1EA, open from 12pm; the ultraviolet experience is 6-10pm. Entry is free with a registered ticket via www.headfirstbristol.co.uk, or tickets can be purchased on the door. The exhibition will then continue from January 30-February 2 at 12-8pm.
Main photo: Ian Jevon
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