Settlement

Settlement connects to the ideas about transitory spaces explored in Chamber, but in this series, the focus is on spaces whose purpose has been changed from one thing to another – a one-time pub transformed into a trendy cafe, say – in areas undergoing gentrification. These are spaces where decor changes along with function and original clientele are displaced. The paintings explore the tension between the past and present purpose of a space through its decor, usually a combination of original features with the lingua franca of modern hospitality.  In these works, reflective surfaces – polished glass, space-enhancing mirrors, tiled floors – speak to such glossy repurposing, at the same refracting and unsettling readings of place. This series was first exhibited in 2015 at Husk Project Space in London.