Born: 1979, London
Lives: London
Statement
Henny Acloque's narrative paintings reference old masters such as Bosch, Bruegel and Durer and explore the fragility of life. Layers of paint and reflective varnish create timeless, evanescent landscapes that encapsulate curious creatures and symbolic, recurring motifs drawn from memories and myths, such as trees, animals, plants, eggs and arches. The majority of paintings are seductively small, which heightens the sinister frisson in the work and spectral space within all of the paintings provides a contemplative portal for considering self in relation to other. Archways with talons or medusa-esque vines brandishing a decapitated bird's head go further to belie the initial desire the paintings evoke in the viewer. Titles such as St. Paula (the patron saint of Widows) confirm that death is an ever present companion in her paintings. Well mined historical iconography - smoking candles, smiling skulls - undermine these eccentric worlds, where paradise is in the balance.
Selected Solo Exhibitions
| 2010 |
Circumstances, First Floor Projects, London, UK |
| 2009 |
A Dressing, Ceri Hand Gallery, Liverpool, UK |
Selected Group Exhibitions
| 2011 |
Threadneedle Prize, Mall Galleries, London, UK |
| |
Memory of a Hope, Ceri Hand Gallery, Liverpool, UK |
| |
THE FUTURE CAN WAIT presents: Polemically Small, Torrance Art Museum, LA,
USA |
| |
Polemically Small, Garboushian Gallery, LA, USA |
| |
Fade Away, North Gallery, Newcastle, UK |
| 2010 |
Fade Away, Transition Gallery, London, UK |
| |
Black Hole Hums B Flat, 80 Duke Street, Ceri Hand Gallery pop up Space,
London, UK |
| |
Exeter Open, Exeter Phoenix Gallery, Exeter, UK |
| 2009 |
Jerwood Drawing Prize, London, UK |
| |
The Future Can Wait, The Truman Brewery, London, UK |
| |
Salon 09, Matt Roberts Arts, London, UK |
| |
Kings, Gods & Mortals, Hamish Morrison Gallerie, Berlin, Germany |
| 2008 |
The Painting Room, Transition Gallery, London, UK |
| |
These Living Walls of Jet, Ceri Hand Gallery, Liverpool, UK |
| 2007 |
Celeste Arts Prize, London and Edinburgh, UK |
| |
John Moores 24, Walker Gallery, Liverpool, UK |
| |
Expedia, National Gallery, London, UK |
Residencies
| 2008 |
Zoo, Buenos Aires, Argentina |
Publications
| 2008 |
Beast of Beasts, Seattle |
| 2006 |
John Moores 24, Liverpool |
Prizes and Awards
| 2010 |
Winner of the Exeter Open, Exeter Phoenix Gallery, Exeter, UK |
Education
| 2002 |
BA Hons Fine Art, University West of England |
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