"Spread Too Thin" Contemporary Art Exhibition Reflecting Current Events

"Spread Too Thin" is an exhibition of minimalist, conceptual works of paper that represent the psychological experience of being torn in too many directions and over-extending oneself.

The fascinating and delicate artworks illustrate the various ways in which paper can be treated and mirror the human experience of being pushed beyond our limits.

Frayed

Paper on paper, framed, 70cm x 101cm

On one hand, hyper-productivity, hustle culture and social media bombardment demand we work harder and longer...on the other hand, looming global recession spreads thin our resources so we have less with which to do more. Furthering the pursuit of using paper to represent the human experience, 'Spread Too Thin' is a series of work on/in paper which illustrates the effect of overextending ourselves.

Cellulose, named to reflect it's composition of cells, is the industrial name for paper pulp from which paper is made. Thus, paper is a profound metaphor for people because our fundamental structural unit is also the cell. When handled and impressed upon, paper responds in much the same way people do; buckling, weakened, pierced, tattered and wrinkled.

When spread too thin, people become fragile, frayed at the edges, buckling under pressure and vulnerable. This series is a minimalist, symbolic reflection of the experience we all encounter when we take on too much, try too hard to impress others by pushing ourselves beyond healthy limits and overextending ourselves.

Each piece is an example of a different way of spreading cellulose and the various effects created. They are named in the way of the post-minimalist, process art of Richard Serra - for the gesture used to effect the result. Many of the resulting 'papers' carry surface textures like skin which hightens the analogy and some have inks added, highlighting the dynamic movement of the material.

The artist wants you to consider...what happens when you spread yourself too thin?

Music at the exhibition by ANOTHER DESIGN

Yellow

Paper on paper, framed, 70cm x 101cm

Pink

Paper on paper, 70cm x 101cm

20 Artworks will be avaialable at the exhibition running from 28th September to 2nd October.

Valerie Ellis is an artist, formerly a psychotherapist, with a studio near west London. She uses paper to represent human experience and intrapersonal dynamics.

Valerie gained her arts degree and psychology degree from the prestigious University of Queensland, Australia. After 20 years in private practice, Valerie moved back to the UK, where she'd lived as a child.

With a psychological lens, Valerie’s artwork uniquely reflects themes like childhood, stress and disguise.

(Photo by Henika Photography)

Host or Publisher Valerie Ellis, artist, former psychotherapist.