Camilla Webster
Tough Job, 2014
Acrylic on canvas
fr. 39 x 24
Copyright 2019 Camilla Webster
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Webster painted 'Tough Job' (formerly “Ties that Bind”) in 2014 while studying at The Slade School of Fine Art. During her stay in London, visiting Duke’s Hotel, the artist noticed...
Webster painted "Tough Job" (formerly “Ties that Bind”) in 2014 while studying at The Slade School of Fine Art. During her stay in London, visiting Duke’s Hotel, the artist noticed a group of brawny young men assigned to the door and laundry services. Disturbed that other guests did not greet them hello in the passage ways, Webster took a special interest in their situation. All of them hailed from Eastern Europe on nine -month work visas. It was clear that the work offered them a new family life.
The artist began to consider the connections in immigrant culture around the world. When she began to paint “Ties that Bind” – the box – the work – had to be the grounding focal point for the painting. She made them faceless – responding to the behavior she had witnessed when hotel guests walked past them as if they were invisible. The fauvist colorscape against the muted lavender and greys suggest their humanity. Making sure she was touching on a universal theme their work, their location is unidentifiable, abstract on purpose. The bright colors of their figures is the artist’s declaration, requirement that we acknowledge them.
The artist began to consider the connections in immigrant culture around the world. When she began to paint “Ties that Bind” – the box – the work – had to be the grounding focal point for the painting. She made them faceless – responding to the behavior she had witnessed when hotel guests walked past them as if they were invisible. The fauvist colorscape against the muted lavender and greys suggest their humanity. Making sure she was touching on a universal theme their work, their location is unidentifiable, abstract on purpose. The bright colors of their figures is the artist’s declaration, requirement that we acknowledge them.