ARTIST STATEMENT

MELISSA SETTERINGTON

Cork St., London September 2007

For a Nicaraguan living in the United Kingdom, the last twenty-five years have sometimes been difficult. Those of us who live away from our homeland have the challenge of absorbing the new culture whilst adjusting our values and being true to ourselves. The differences in cultures have produced a strong feeling of suspension and a sense of wonder of where it is that I truly belong. I feel that there are huge polarities between cultures and émigrés have to deal, at one point or another with these differences. All the problems arising from the “conundrum of cultures” are what the world is struggling to adjust to today.

The tension produced by this is what I explore through my work; how to represent it visually, succinctly and aesthetically. Currently, I am working with increasing the tension through the exploration of subtle contrasts of colours and textures. The dynamics of shapes and forms expressed in a simple but strong composition; shapes that fight against each other in a space.

I visit my country every year for two weeks. During this time I focus in absorbing the natural colour of the area which is the main inspiration for my work. I document all my experiences through photography, followed by the development of a series of drawings, Collage, Paintings and/or Relief work. I have been inspired by Ellesworth Kelly's simplicity, Mark Rothko's subtlety and Sandra Blow's dynamic expression.

FINE ART EDUCATION

2004-2005 BA (Hons.) Fine Art Practice – Amersham & Wycombe, College, Buckinghamshire, UK. First Class Honours Degree.

•  HND Fine Art Practice – Amersham & Wycombe College, Buckinghamshire, UK.

•  Access Art & Design – Amersham & Wycombe

College, Buckinghamshire, UK.

1982-2001 Joined art classes with local artists in the area. UK.

SHOWS AND EXHIBITIONS

•  Pavillion Launch Exhibition, awful/FANTASTIC, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, UK. July 2007.

•  ID:Entity, West End Centre, Queens Rd. Aldershot, UK. March 2007.

•  Solo Exhibition, Galeriazero – Barcelona, Spain. January 2007.

•  Solo Exhibition. CARITOR, Reading, UK. September 2006 – March 2007.

•  BA (Hons.) Fine Art Practice, Year End Exhibition, Amersham & Wycombe College, Buckinghamshire,UK. June 2005.

•  Higher National Diploma, Fine Art Practice, Year II Exhibition, Amersham & Wycombe College, Buckinghamshire, UK. June 2004.

•  “Off the Wall” Group Exhibition. Outside: Tate Modern, Saatchi Gallery, Millenium Bridge, Trafalgar Square – London, UK. June 2004.

•  Canning House, Belgrave Sq., London, UK. (Solo Show), January to February 2004.

•  Nicaraguan Embassy, Sth. Kensington, London, UK. (Solo Show), January to February 2004.

•  Higher National Diploma, Fine Art Practice, Year I Exhibition, Amersham & Wycombe

College, Buckinghamshire, UK. June 2003

•  Access in Art and Design, Amersham & Wycombe College, Buckinghamshire, UK. June 2003.