"Episode VII" by Cathleen Clarke features a blurred figure amidst vibrant yellows, pinks, and blacks, creating a ghostly effect that blends into the background. The drawing captures a semblance of a human form merging with abstract shapes, possibly suggesting a staircase, evoking themes of ephemerality and transition. Clarke's style is ethereal and expressive, utilizing soft gradients and flowing lines to depict the passage of time and memory. The work reflects Clarke’s exploration of temporality and the complex emotions surrounding memory and the inevitable flow of life and death. ...
Cathleen Clarke’s artistic practice is united by her exploration of temporality, and the way time moves, death and recollection. Her references are memories from childhood, photographs of family from past years, and images which she finds and gathers. When creating her compositions, Clarke paints memory and her own personal history and fading memories, rather than focusing on the present and immediate. For Clarke, there is an ugliness inherent in how time passes, yet also beauty. As her figures seep and disappear into her backgrounds, they illuminate the confusion and lack of lucidity and certainty that are ever-present throughout life, and in death. ...
Margot Samel opened in Tribeca, New York, in May 2022, with a commitment to presenting research-driven exhibitions by international artists at all stages of their careers, often debuting their first shows in New York. Originally from Estonia, Margot Samel worked in galleries, museums, and artist-run spaces in Tallinn, Glasgow, and New York for over a decade before opening her eponymous gallery. The inaugural exhibition featured Estonian multidisciplinary artist Kris Lemsalu (b. 1985, Tallinn), whose complex sculptures, installations, and performances blur the boundaries between life and art, setting the tone for a program that embraces experimentation and collaboration across diverse artistic practices. While placing particular emphasis on contemporary artists from the Baltic region, the gallery also works with contemporary and historical artists from international backgrounds. Margot Samel is dedicated to fostering long-term relationships with both emerging and established artists, while collaborating with other galleries to support ambitious exhibitions. ...
