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These three large landscapes reflect the fact that we live in a visually ambiguous world. Sand means seaside holidays. The light reflects off the surface of shallow water as you paddle along gazing downwards. But sand also means deserts. You stare down on clouds, mountain ranges, coastlines and the fingerprints of ancient settlements from high in the air, and watch the explosions of war. Are these beaches or battlefields? Reflections or explosions? Holidays or war?
In the public space of the beach, we can have moments of private contemplation. The public world of war is brought into our private spaces by television.
These three paintings were exhibited in 2004 at Cally Trench's solo exhibition Surface Tension at South Hill Park Arts Centre in Bracknell, and in the 2D Open Exhibition at the Surface Gallery in Nottingham.
SEA AND RIVER PAINTINGS
Cally Trench's earlier sea and river paintings explore the sand and waves of the seaside, and the fish and swirls found in rivers.
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In many of them, the viewpoint is directly above - looking down onto and through the surface of the water. In some, the viewer or the artist's presence is implied by arms or a hand. In others, the viewpoint and scale are ambiguous.
These paintings reflect the combination of motion, pattern and stillness found in moving water.