Merryl Custers
ART Habens
Perhaps this stems from my previous work in social services, which is largely psychologically, emotionally and relationally based. My work tends to explore issue around these areas, as opposed to political thoughts. I recently completed a commission from a London film maker, the content of which could be construed as political, as it is in direct response to the US legalisation of gay marriage this year. However, even my work in this context, which portrays the statue of liberty as a drag queen, is not politically driven. It is emotionally based. The work was made more from my response to the emotional struggle of many in the LGBT Community, and is less a political statement, although it could be read in that way. Whilst I don’t actively attempt political neutrality, I believe I am less prone to make work that makes a political statements, and more inclined focus on the human emotional experience. This may change over time, however, as I am always evolving in my personal interests and passions.
Captions
Your works exhibit a palette marked out with a variety of vivid tones: the dialogue established by the thoughtful nuances you combine together is a crucial aspect of your style, that is capable of summing up a mix of thoughts and emotions. How much does your own psychological make-up determine the nuances of tones you decide to use in a piece and in particular, how do you develop a texture? Moreover, any comments on your choice of palette and how it has changed over time?
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The Bull and the Mouse
I find acrylic paint to be a very easy and flexible material to work with when creating textures. Oil paint is more languid in its nature, and requires more of a thoughtful approach, whereas acrylic goes well with my very quick and expressive painting style. When creating a texture, as well as a colour palette, I will look to photographs, drawings and documentation I have done, and from there the aesthetic palette of the work develops.
70 x 40 Mixed Media, Oil and Collage on canvas
in their works. Do you consider that your works are political in this way or do you seek to maintain a neutral approach?
Whilst I have certain personal political leanings, I am less than fond of politics in general, and as such, prefer to deal with issues surrounding the everyday, and the human condition, in my work.
Summer 2015
My palette has always been very bold. Much of my earlier works employed the use of
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