Axis –an Odyssey, a new exhibition by SUSAN HESTER KAY
 
Axis takes its name from the central connecting thread or hub, which runs throughout this collection of images and forms the backbone of a new solo exhibition to be held at the Koukan Gallery, Muswell Hill, London from 12 - 25 March 2012.

Developed in a contemplative fashion over the last two years, this body of work springs directly from 'Song', S. H. Kay’s last solo show held at the Menier Gallery in London 2009.

Axis is made up of drawings, paintings and digital prints all reflecting the journey that S.H Kay’s artistic life has taken over the last 10 years. Signature themes of the sea, sky and water feature and watercolour sketch postcards add a travel diary element with their own axis of connecting timelines. The postcards are used as a sketchbook by the artist when travelling – they are posted home to gather marks and smudges from their independent journey.

Susan’s art is executed in different media but all are tied together by common ideas and form. Unifying their final image size is seen by Susan as important glue to give the Axis series cohesion and also frees her to work well in her garden studio.
“I’m really pleased to be putting on this exhibition in my own neighbourhood. My odyssey started in Greece 10 years ago as I sketched the brilliantly contrasting sky and water there. I like the idea of an axis as a hub and also an imaginary line about which a body rotates. - and this is fundamental to how I have planned this show.
Horizon lines are central to Axis and exist in some way in each image. Being shortsighted may be why I prefer to look into the distance and enjoy the blurriness of a scene, my digital work particularly has that softer look.”
Axis – an Oyssey is unfolding to hint at a more mysterious, and less obvious, horizon, created by distance, a variety of colours, elements and textures. Sometimes the horizon is simply implied or perhaps only imagined. This fluid, less descriptive, approach can lead to the unexpected raising more questions than answers.

The exhibition is open on Tuesday-Saturdays 12 noon - 5pm, entry is free. Susan will be at the exhibition on Saturdays.
Koukan Gallery
106A Alexandra Park Road
London, N10 2AE
020 8444 7121
www.koukangallery.com