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20
20

Arts Degree Show

Twenty Twenty

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As sad as it seems

As sad as it seems

Oil on wood, 40 x 22.6 cm

Pre-drink card trick (detail)

Pre-drink card trick (detail)

Oil on wood

Nighttime conversation (detail)

Nighttime conversation (detail)

Oil on wood

Last dance (detail)

Last dance (detail)

Oil on wood

As sad as it seems (detail)

As sad as it seems (detail)

Oil on wood

Alice Miller

My paintings explore our ambivalent relationship with darkness in modernity. I attempt to rework the everyday reliance on light and vision in Western culture through depiction of the relationship between darkness and touch.

Initially inspired by movement of bodies within nightclubs, figures are depicted in nocturnal social scenes. These dark spaces alter behaviour and rules of social interaction, lowering inhibitions and allowing greater intimacy. Each piece is a direct replica of a single reference image — a mobile phone photograph or video still, depicting or taken by myself. Photorealistic technique addresses the cameras presence and extends a fragment of time over a duration. Hands, touching or in communicative gesture, remain a prominent motif. Deep shadow also recurs in my work, and is essential in adding depth and texture, and forcing the viewer to accept dark space as equal in merit to light areas.
Throughout my degree, I have consolidated my painting technique as well as attaining knowledge of analogue photography and film processing. After graduation, I intend to develop a career as a freelance artist, while expanding my practice and gaining industry experience through artist residencies and internships.

Dissertation

God is a DJ: Light and enchantment in art and nocturnal leisure space

Final year project

Nighttime Social Scenes

Awards

'20 exhibited in 'Visual Impact' at MTC, Coventry; featured in 'DECENTRE' (@decentre_art) Instagram zine [anticipated].
'18 LSA Student Award Runner Up; exhibited in LSA Annual Exhibition at New Walk Museum & Art Gallery, Leicester.

Experience

'19 Photographer and Camp Counsellor at Trail's End Camp, Beach Lake, Pennsylvania, USA.