Tim Kent's latest exhibition examines the historic interiors of many of the most interesting houses in West Sussex from the Stately homes of Uppark, Petworth House and Parham Park to numerous sequestered private houses dating from the Middle Ages to the Victorian Era. Around fifteen paintings provide a rare opportunity to glimpse inside some of the finest houses in the county. No artist has ever been allowed access to such a superb collection of Sussex homes, both public and private on this scale before.
Tim Kent grew up in New York graduating from the City University of New York in 2001. From 2004-2005 he completed a post graduate diploma at West Dean College in Sussex gaining a distinction. This is his second major exhibition with the Moncrieff-Bray Gallery. The first, Flux Project, in 2005 centred on a three month residency at the gallery. He has also shown regularly in New York and is a dynamic emerging talent on the International arts scene.
The title is a play on the word camera the latin for room and the camera used to capture the initial images themselves. It also refers to the many artists who have used and are using a camera or camera obscura in their work such as Richard Hamilton, Thomas Eakins, Degas, Vermeer and Canaletto.
Kent's working technique marries past and present bringing a contemporary edge to this traditional subject matter. It involves the use of extensive digital photography, computer manipulation and complex perspective drawings to arrive at the finished image. While relying on these devices for the structure and composition, Kent is first and foremost a painter. The paintings are intensely romantic and atmospheric. His use and manipulation of paint in creating light, tone and atmosphere are superb. There is often a sense of ambiguity in the spaces depicted. While the rooms appear real the perspective is subtlety distorted enhancing the vistas and dramatic architectural details. Light streaming in from various sources is the key protagonist.
While at West Dean Kent became intrigued by the contrast between his steamy, urban Manhattan environment and upbringing and the echoing, empty but resonate spaces of the English Country home. In many of the paintings there is a sense of the owners both past and present. Sometimes figures appear but more often the rooms are empty. The viewer is placed in a voyeuristic position, peering into these intimate domestic settings where the presence of generations of owners is palpably felt through layers of design, decoration and personal possessions.
‘As I explored the various private places, social spaces and magnificent stately rooms of these houses I was struck by how smoothly they all co-existed. The distinct tastes of the present owners did not compromise their allegiances to the traditions of English culture and heritage. The houses appeared a seamlessly marriage of past and present combining the historical and contemporary aesthetic. As the light streamed in from tall lancet or Georgian windows it accentuated the impeccable craftsmanship, the extraordinary colours of the walls, the lush textures of the carpets and curtains and the whimsical moldings and ornate sylvan relief work', commented Tim Kent.
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Education
2005
- M.A., Visual Arts, University of Sussex, UK (Completed with Distinction)
- P.G. Dip.Painting and Drawing, West Dean College, UK (Completed with Distinction)
2001
- B.A., Studio Art/Art History, The City University of New York, Hunter College, NY
1994-99
- The Art Students League of New York, NY.
Relevant Professional Experience
2005-present
Professionally Practicing Visual Artist
Part-Time Lecturer for Post Graduate Diploma Painting and Drawing, West Dean College, West Dean, UK
Visiting Lecturer, NYCAMS: New York Center for Art and Media Studies, NY
2003-present
TAG Projects
Co-created and ran Artist organized venues in alternative spaces for emerging and established artists in New York City. TAG Projects is a community of emerging artist/curators who organize quality exhibitions in both traditional and non-traditional venues. It strives to present work that energizes the contemporary art scene as well as the larger community. www.tagprojects.com
Brooklyn Sewing Circle
The overall goal of BSC was to create an environment for lively, non-pretentious communication between artists that broke up the isolation of the studio. Several artists would gather weekly and critique the work of the exhibiting artist. This would often lead to conversations about contemporary art that were at times extremely funny while at other times moving and contemplative.
2001-03
The GIL Studios LLC Brooklyn, NY
Stained glass restoration and fabrication from works by contemporary stained glass artists such as Albin Elskus to refurbishment and conservation of major commissioned Windows by Louis Comfort Tiffany and John La Farge.
Selected Exhibitions
- 2007
Moncrieff-Bray Gallery, Petworth, UK
- Momento Mori, The Artists Network New York City, Curated by Mariko Tanaka
- Artist Residence: Camera Obscura, Lausanne SZ
2006
- The Queen Street Gallery, Emsworth, UK
- Moncrieff-Bray Gallery Petworth, UK
2005
- (T)Here, Galleria Na Solyanke, Moscow, Russian Fed., Curated by Alexandra Lerman
- Flux Project, Petworth, UK
- MA Graduate Show West Dean College, West Dean, UK
- Reclamation: Post Graduate Show West Dean College, West Dean, UK
2004
- Death To The Fascist Insect That Preys On The Life Of the People, TAG Projects Space, DUMBO Brooklyn, NY. Curated by Pete Corrie
- 27th Small Works Show Washington Square Galleries, New York University. New York City, NY. Curated by Molly Barnes.
2003
- What the Whitney Don't Know, TAG project space. DUMBO Brooklyn, NY
Curated by Derick Melander, John Silvis, Tim Kent and Alex Echo
D.U.M.B.O. Works on Paper, Gallery 800, DUMBO Brooklyn, NY, Curated by Tim Kent
- Five Degrees, Group Invitational, Whitecouch Temporary, Brooklyn New York
- Primer Drawings, DUMBO General Store, Brooklyn, NY
2000
- Drawing the Line, Hunter College Gallery, New York City, NY Curated by Anthony Panzera
1999
- Amy Watkins Memorial Mural for the C.U.N.Y. Graduate School of Social Work, New York City, NY
Collections
Appleton Museum of Art, Ocala, FL |
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