Mr Joseph Kopiel, Deputy Director of Art and Design, is hosting his Somnambulist exhibition on the new Studio Gallery from Monday 24 February to Friday 14 March.
Mr Kopiel's work explores themes of escapism, focusing on the interplay between the recognisable and the abstract. This dynamic generates a sense of ambiguity that engages with states of metamorphosis and transformation. His practice delves into oneiric sentiments, evoking dreams, emotional states and memories that are not overtly autobiographical, though his pieces remain deeply personal. These works can be understood as poetic responses to themes and ideas that captivate him, such as the carnivalesque, iconic imagery, the anthropomorphic and the depiction of figures within alternative landscapes.
He views his work as an ongoing process of creating abstract narratives, forged through a relationship with both the process and the materials he employs. Drawing serves as the foundation for all of his work, often depicting animals and figures within invented landscapes. Through a process of layering, these drawings undergo a transformation, resulting in works that shift from private to public expressions. The images become increasingly difficult, if not impossible, to decipher, while the materials themselves take on a life of their own, fostering ambiguity that resonates with themes of transformation and the liminal.
His work is also imbued with theatrical and performative qualities, where each piece emerges as a distinct character that engages with both beauty and grotesque elements. These characters represent inner states or worlds that are simultaneously melancholic, romantic and in constant flux, reflecting a continual state of metamorphosis.
The Private View is on Friday 28 February from 6 to 8pm.
Please follow the link below to book your visit:
