Award winning Plymouth University graduates’ first show opens
Ocean Studios is proud to present the work of two residency award-winning artists, Andrew Meredith and Luke Walder. As two recent Plymouth University graduates, 144 mark the emerging artists’ first self-directed and major exhibition. Running from 13th February – 5th March 2016, the exhibition will also provide a ‘Talking Heads’ Meet the Artists event on 23rd February at the city’s Bread & Roses location.
Originally from Emsworth, Hampshire, and Muddiford, North Devon, both artists shone throughout their degrees in Fine Art at Plymouth University. Their talent was immediately recognised, opening up opportunities for them to exhibit locally and internationally, representing Plymouth University in Amsterdam. Meredith and Walder graduated with a 1st and 2:1 respectively in September 2015 and Walder has also exhibited his work nationally, at the RWA (Royal West of England Academy) and within London.
Thanks to their sponsored residency at Ocean Studios, both artists have remained within the city to drive forward their emerging careers. Predominately working within the discipline of painting, with 144 they present an artist-led site-specific exhibition composed entirely of new bodies of work. The name reflects specific elements of the buildings location. Their colour pallet has been chosen to reflect and compliment the property. Through both abstract and figurative styles they explore space within the Ocean Studios exhibition space within the Royal William Yard, reflecting on the beauty of often-overlooked attributes. Entering new territories, the artists collaborate and also display work of sculptural elements and performance.
Meredith’s work focuses on the human presence, painting imagined scenes constructed by a collage of his surroundings. As the viewer moves from the art-work of Meredith to Walder, the work shifts from figurative to abstract, from the identifiable to the implied. Walder’s work focuses on the overwhelming presence of one’s own context and selfishly reinterprets engagement within and around it. Collaborating together both artists explore the realms of performance and sculpture, using this combination of works to question and celebrate the everyday and their relationship.
Andrew Meredith/Luke Walder say, “It is exciting having the studio space together and the support from Ocean Studios as it has allowed us to enter the art world directly from education. We feel so lucky to have such a major show so early in our careers. It is an amazing time to be in Plymouth, with so much happening with the arts, and we feel honoured to be a part of that.”
Leigh Mason, founder of Ocean Studios says, “The Ocean Studios concept was founded to fulfil the need of an artists’ studio and networking space within the city. Our Emerge space, and this sponsored residency programme, has been designed to specifically nurture and grow talent like Andrew Meredith and Luke Walder. They have both worked so hard, not only on their own work, but as part of our community here, since they joined, and it is really rewarding for everyone to see them coming into their own with their first self-directed show with144.”
Ocean Studios is a creative space within the City of Plymouth, consisting of a large gallery space and studios, located at Royal William Yard.
