Extremely Supernormal
Extremely Supernormal is a playful and bordering-on-the-bizarre exhibition of works on paper and on textiles, combining collage, print and techniques often considered ‘women’s work’. The exhibition takes selected pieces from Rossanne Pellegrino’s series, ‘No Wallflower’ and ‘Play at Home Mum’, and explores themes of memory, identity, domesticity and play.
“Storytelling plays a big part in my work. Growing up I always remember a lot of old family photos, trinkets and keepsakes - from both sides of my family. I think because they moved to Australia from other parts of the world, using these objects to keep memories and tell stories was important to them. It is now of no surprise to me that I use these sorts of materials in my work today.” Rossanne Pellegrino 2023.
📍Extremely Supernormal is on at Solaris Gallery, 76 Norman Road, St Leonards-on-Sea, East Sussex from 12 June - 24 August 2023.
imagery FROM THE SHOW…
The process…
‘Extremely Supernormal’ combines works from two important series made from 2020 - 2023: ‘Play at Home Mum’ and ‘No Wallflower’. Read on to find out more about the inspiration for these series…
My love of collage using found imagery was further when I began combining this with everday objects found around the home, to explore domesticity and motherhood. Being a mum of a then 3 year old daughter had ignited a curiosity for daily play and the importance of incorporating this in my art. Creative flow followed and as any artist knows, when you are in a state of creative flow, keep doing what you’re doing. So I kept playing. What followed was a series titled, ‘Play at Home Mum’ - a sort of play on words of the fun and the boredom, the rewards and the sacrifices of mum life.
It was not long after that these collages with found imagery and pre-loved objects moved to textile collages in a series called ‘No Wallflower’.
The textile wall hangings in this series were inspired by Suffragette banners, by sage advice handed down the generations (usually between women) and by craft techniqies considered "women's work".
It all began when I was taking a walk around St Leonards where I live and spotted this amazing, so discreet it feels hidden, blue plaque for Elsie Bowerman: a local Suffragette, Barrister and survivor of the Titanic disaster. Seemed like Elsie had done a lot with her life so I got started on making my wall hangings IMMEDIATELY.
In fact this blue plaque is located 2 mins away from Solaris gallery where ‘Extremely Supernomal’ is currently on show. If you are popping in to see the show at Solaris make sure you keep an eye our for Elsie' Bowerman’s blue plaque, approximately half way down Silchester Road. Let me know of you spot it.
You can read more about Extremely Supernormal here.