Everything Considered: A Material Lead Exploration
Von Bartha, Basel presents a solo exhibition by British glass artist Anna Dickinson which explores her unique, glass experiments.
Von Bartha, Basel presents a solo exhibition of British glass artist Anna Dickinson, running from 7th of September until 2nd of November 2019. The show is guest-curated by collector, philanthropist and design entrepreneur Catherine Walsh, affirming von Bartha’s continued dedication to challenging existing gallery models and collaborating beyond conventional art world practices.
The artist’s unique glass experiments with inventive material combinations, often letting the material lead and govern the creative process. Finding inspiration from across design and art spheres, her creative practice is particularly influenced by architecture – notably the progressive glass and steel constructions characteristic of 1990s Japan – geology and science fiction.
Science and space are key elements in Dickinson’s work, next to a sense of ‘danger, excitement and potential’ inspired by science fiction from her youth. Also geology -specifically stones and jewels- are an important inspiration for the artist, which can be seen in her color palette. This points to a continuing fascination with her Grandmother’s Victorian Jet Jewellery collection.
Within her work notions of gender are widely explored in form, material, shape, translucency, and opacity. Whilst the pieces have formed their own internal dynamics, Dickinson realizes them as subconscious expressions of the varying aspects of her own identity.
Speaking of Dickinson’s solo show, guest-curator Catherine Walsh says: The intention was to dive deeper into Anna Dickinson’s psyche to understand how numerous and diverse influences throughout her life come together to create each individual piece. They are made of glass, yet there is nothing transparent about them; on the contrary, it’s the combination of materials, not the purity of one material, that moves them away from something direct to something quite opaque. The end result is a new body of serious, architectural objects that are void of the artist’s hand yet completely hand made.
Walsh honed her expertise by working for global fashion and beauty brands, including Estee Lauder and Coty, whilst building a deep knowledge of the art and design fields through her own collecting, Walsh’s curation offers a new perspective on the presentation of Dickinson’s artworks within the gallery space.
At von Bartha, the exhibition stages dramatic lighting to reveal each piece’s inherent visual complexity – thus inviting a curiosity within the viewer to engage with each work from multiple perspectives.
Anna Dickinson, Everything Considered, 7 September – 2 November 2019, von Bartha, Basel, vonbartha.com
Cover image: Anna Dickinson, Cast glass with copper and silver top, 2019, 11 cm x 12 cm. Courtesy the artist and von Bartha, Basel.
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