Self Portraits Paint Picture Of Impact Of Illness
4 June 2013
Creative Expressive Therapies student, Katherine Mcewan's large scale paintings
Painting on such a large scale has been a real challenge but a fantastic one, as it has enabled me to create two paintings that make an incredible impact on the viewer because of their size and detail.
”Katherine McEwan
A talented painter has completed two larger than life self-portraits to explore how the diagnosis of an illness affects a person's self-image. Her paintings will go on public display this week as part of the University of Derby's final year degree shows.
Katherine McEwan, 23, from Matlock, worked on the six by four feet paintings for the final year of a BA (Hons) Creative Expressive Therapies degree. The two striking paintings in acrylic on hardboard which took Katherine three weeks each to paint, are mirror images of one another. Through Katherine's use of slightly different colours the two images represent her exploration of illness and medicalisation in today's society.
Katherine said: "I have been deeply affected by the experiences of people close to me who have suffered from terminal illnesses.
"I have seen how being given the diagnosis of an illness affects a person's self-image, as well as the perceptions of those around them. When people are labelled with an illness they acquire a 'medical identity' and to people in health care and to others they are seen as that illness. Medical treatments also shape a person's identity through its physical affects.
"Through these two paintings, and a sculpture made out of hair that will sit alongside them, I have tried to explore this theme in my art," she added.
"Painting on such a large scale has been a real challenge but a fantastic one, as it has enabled me to create two paintings that make an incredible impact on the viewer because of their size and detail."
Jean Bennett, Senior Lecturer in Therapeutic Arts, said: "Katherine has explored many different styles of working over the three year period whilst on the art pathway. She has dedicated much time and effort into the realisation of the current work and her style and identity as an individual artist.
"What stands out in the work is her attention to detail, mark making and the sheer scale of the work and the concept that underpins her thinking both in a personal and wider context."
Katherine's paintings and sculpture forms part of the BA (Hons) Creative Expressive Therapies degree final year exhibition, Statement as Image, at the University's Britannia Mill site, on Mackworth Road, Derby. It was opened by Marian Liebmann OBE on Friday May 31. The exhibition is open to the public from June 1 - 11.
For more information on the exhibition of the artists www.cet-exhibition-2013.com or follow them on Twitter @CETexhibition13
For more information on Creative Expressive Therapies degree course visit www.derby.ac.uk/courses/creative-expressive-therapies-ba-hons/
The University's annual Degree Shows - this year called 'The Big Show' - feature free public displays of students' work in crafts, fashion, textiles, fine art, film, design, theatre, visual communications, architecture, music technology, creative expressive therapies, art therapy and many more subjects. All displays will be open to the public from Saturday June 1 to Tuesday June 11, at the University's Markeaton Street and Britannia Mill sites in Derby.
For more information on The Big Show see website www.derby.ac.uk/academicschools/bigshow
