Primordial Storehouse – Christiane Shortal

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23rd May 2023 - 12th Jun 2023

Primordial Storehouse – Christiane Shortal

In Primordial Storehouse Christiane Shortal creates a world with whimsical mysterious characters, creatures and monsters. Like uncovered lost documents or ancient artefacts in the back room of a museum with symbols and meaning that have been lost to time, they sit between the unknown and the comprehendible, safety and terror, for the viewer to decipher.

Shortal intuitively builds out her pieces as they develop, responding to what the work needs. That instinctive and eccentric mindset plays out in polymer clay heads with their idiosyncrasies and forms made within the short time frame the medium allows. In her paintings central figures are enveloped into their environments, becoming part of their peculiar ecosystems.

The combination of playfulness and an archetypal looming presence within each piece characterises this show. Bright colours, soft forms and fantasy-like figures belie unknown intentions. As such, she describes the polymer clay works in the exhibition as talismans, real world manifestations of her painted and embroidered world, which bring a mystic energy to their space. Shortal seeks to inspire the same awe and joy of discovery that we experience in an encounter with something that exists just beyond our understanding.

Read more about this body of work in our City Art Reader

“Balm”Christiane Shortal
The final personality problemChristiane Shortal
Love me as I amChristiane Shortal
Front and BackChristiane Shortal
Serfs upChristiane Shortal
Select all images containing crosswalksChristiane Shortal
Collected StoriesChristiane Shortal
Tears in 10kChristiane Shortal
Home in ParenthesesChristiane Shortal
Beta Surface LoveChristiane Shortal
Couch IconChristiane Shortal
Express YourselfChristiane Shortal
Yore StarChristiane Shortal
MeliteChristiane Shortal
Subscriptions EndChristiane Shortal
Terracotta Cash GrabChristiane Shortal
A OKChristiane Shortal
FfffffffffhhhhhttttttpChristiane Shortal
Love me in the GapsChristiane Shortal
The Sky InsideChristiane Shortal
Answer 3Christiane Shortal
The furniture is rearranged the way I likeChristiane Shortal
Outta HereChristiane Shortal
seraphimdad96Christiane Shortal
I know you didn’t like that yet i refuse to apologiseChristiane Shortal
wh3n u ar3 d0w I will b3 th3r3Christiane Shortal
You have a full life ahead of youChristiane Shortal
DefineChristiane Shortal