Sepideh Ilsley Solo Exhibition

'FLUID'

Studio Gallery is delighted to present Sepideh Ilsley for her solo exhibition, 'FLUID.'

We invite you to join us opening night for celebratory drinks and an intimate artist talk.

Location | Studio Gallery, 14 Dissik Street, Cheltenham

Exhibition | 19th October - 2nd November

Sepideh Ilsley is an internationally-recognised abstract artist, born in Shiraz, Iran.

Ilsley’s contemplative discourse unveils a profound journey marked by an unyielding commitment to poetic expression and exploration, a lyrical testament to the passage of time, encapsulating fleeting moments in tangible shapes. ‘Fluid’ aspires to transcend the boundaries of visual aesthetics, serving as a conduit for emotional resonance and contemplation.

“I see my practice as a journey of expression and exploration. My sculptural shapes are like poetry to me. Snapshots of moments in time. I wish to evoke emotion with these lyrical pieces. I imagine how the audience can see their own story in the paintings, and that the names of the pieces can work as a trigger for the imagination of the viewer to interpret and read their own story into the works. Text and objects working together. I want to allow for emotion, thought and a physical experience. I want to engage the viewer so that its significance can exist beyond the painting itself.”

Ilsley’s large-scale monochrome paintings assert their presence through the subtle manipulation of tonal contrast. Incorporating tactility and a nuanced use of colour, Ilsley’s muted hues interplay across a range of mediums; ceramic stoneware, ink on paper and acrylic on linen. Vacillating between solid planes, textured backgrounds and the purposeful absence of background colour, “Fluid” elicits a sense of movement and dynamism.

"With this body of work I wanted to convey a sense of silent movement and emotion through the use of a spare language, to offer the viewer a sense of presence and a moment of reverie. As the great Persian poet Rumi says; When I run after what I think I want, my days are a furnace of stress and anxiety; if I sit in my own place of patience, what I need flows to me, and without pain. From this I understand that what I want also wants me, is looking for me and attracting me. There is a great secret here for anyone who can grasp it.”

The fusion of Scandinavian minimalism and Iranian calligraphic qualities creates a unique and distinctive style that is both visually striking and deeply meaningful. Much like a fingerprint, Ilsley’s work tells an autobiographical story through evocative lines and shapes. Layers of memory are delicately articulated through a nuanced synergy of angles and curves, a gentle fluidity echoing life's rhythmic ebb and flow. “My pieces often take a very long time to sketch, as I spend time stripping them back until only the essence of the piece remains.” This laborious yet cathartic process of controlled precision, layered intricacies, and attention to proportionality manifest in remarkable depth and sense of ‘wholeness,’ in the works.

“The initial part of my practice, when I sketch, is very similar to the way an expressionist works. In fact, I see myself as an expressionist. Working with broad, emotive strokes that pour out of you subconsciously and continuously until you have finished what you have to say. A subconscious flow. A free state of mind, where the work flows from you without any preconceived ideas or planning. A mental state of complete absorption and connection to what is within, and the urge to manifest it.”

‘Fluid’ will run from 19th October - 5th November 2023 at Studio Gallery’s fourth location, 14 Dissik St, Cheltenham.