Mel Davis: Hihihi You feel good *I

1 - 30 April 2020
Overview
​Mel Davis’ abstract paintings are distinguished by being more than a painted object; they create a reality of their own. Davis forms collages from elements derived from Popular and Museum Culture. This source material is used as a first thought and memory aid to compile more fully orchestrated compositions for transposition to canvas.
 
Painted in vibrant hues that push the limits of physicality and test our perceptions of material, the work is a consequence of replicas of replications, faithfully, and artfully organized and interpreted by Davis.
 
The aesthetic of fragmentation is inherent in her painting process, adapting a multi-layered, harmonious composition, using singular elements in a medley of styles. For Davis, this intricate system reflects the complexity of navigating information today. At the center of Davis’s project is the question; how do we absorb information and arrange it?  
 
The title of the exhibition "Hihihi You feel good *I," is a direct quote from a text message from Davis’ daughter, Calliope. It is an example of the compression and collision of language, which is how Davis experiences making paintings. Davis sees optimism in new modes of expression; this belief and brightness are exhibited in these new works.
Installation Views