29 October - 5 December
Thursday - Sunday, 12-6pm

Opening: 28 October, 6-9pm.

All welcome.

Silvia Lerin is a visual artist currently living and working in Luton where she has been awarded by the Culture Trust Luton with a year studio bursary. She graduated with a BA (Hons) in Fine Art from the Polytechnic University of Valencia in 1998. She has exhibited widely and has received many awards and grants, most notably the Pollock-Krasner Foundation Grant, New York in 2013 and The Annex Collection Award in 2017.

The installation, Full-Time Labyrinth she presents at OUTPOST Gallery explores the physical and mental experience of working full-time in a lower basement of a busy hotel in London some years ago – the desire and time for creation was severely compromised - the low ceilings, the narrow passageways were all unstabling factors. It felt difficult to escape this mind process…the sun of hope was omnipotent but always unseen during all that time.

The displayed pieces, the Labyrinth and the Sun, show different aspects of the visual scenario of her working space whilst also looking at the mental process Silvia was experiencing in relation with her time for creation as an artist.

Read the full press release here.

A conversation between OUTPOST’s Rosalyn McLean and artist Silvia Lerin

Rosalyn McLean: So, how are you feeling?

Silvia Lerin: I am feeling great in having this opportunity to show this installation!

RM: With Full-Time Labyrinth you talk about how working as an engineer coordinator left you feeling exhausted and somewhat isolated from the outside world, did it help you discover anything new about your work and practice?

SL: I discovered two lovely things that I wanted to keep in mind, one is that I have realised how much love and passion I have for my art and the things that I have (and haven’t) done to pursue it. The second one - that being in touch with people that don’t take art into account in their lovely lives has made me think about art differently in a more kind and open manner.

RM: We’ve spoken about how the creative process and being present with your work can inform the outcome and depth to a piece, has emotion and story-telling always been a big thing for you?

SL: I have tried always to let things happen organically, everything that happened inside the canvas was the outcome of a deep dialogue with myself and with the material and surface. Now it is just that I know better how to describe the emotions inside things and to percieve their hidden stories through their aspect, colour and context. I know it is always my interpretation, but that’s why I make art.

RM: Can you tell me about the performance piece that goes alongside The Sun and the Labyrinth works?

SL: Yes, Full-Time Labyrinth was made to be displayed hanged from the ceiling, cutting visually the sun perpendicularly. The whole Labyrinth would be more or less at the heigh of my chest, so when I would pass through the Labyrinth only my neck would be passing it, below would be the rest of my body struggling as my knees would be forced to be extra flexed. Due to the beams and ceiling of the OUTPOST gallery I prefered to present the labyrinth on the floor. The piece has another dialog with the space but still keeping its main concept.

RM: Have you been able to draw inspiration for future pieces through your time spent visiting Norwich?

SL: Yes! I normally get inspiration from visits to new places or environments, many of those ideas end up being artworks when having the time and place to develop them. I have loved the particular orange colour native to Norwich ladybirds which I found out graciously that they are called Bishy Barnabees and this has given me inspiration for a possible new project.