Edinburgh College’s artist in residence Hayley Mathers is holding an exhibition that has been inspired by the vibrant work of Henri Matisse.
The free SUN exhibition will take place at the Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop today. In homage to the artist, The Sun exhibition explores and celebrates some of the painter’s greatest works by experimenting with pieces of textiles, bright colours and bold patterns to try to capture his iconic style.
Hayley is part of Edinburgh College’s Centre for Creative Industries artists in residence scheme, which gives students the chance to work alongside leading and well-respected artists within their area of study. The scheme has seen college graduates return as artists in residence, including BAFTA-winning filmmaker in residence Garry Fraser and photographer in residence Albie Clark.
Hayley Mathers said: “During my residency at Edinburgh College, I have become really interested in the methods and techniques of learning as an artist. I chose Matisse because I love his use of colour and pattern, particularly in his cut-outs. He cut out shapes from coloured paper and pinned them onto paper until he was happy with his composition. I wanted to step into his shoes to an extent and attempt to understand what it would have been like to approach image-making like this.”
During her residency, Hayley has researched a range of renowned artists from some of the most influential periods in art history. By repeating their actions and replicating their work, she has gained an understanding of their vision and shared their working methods with the creative industry students. The Edinburgh-based artist, who studied HND Public Art at Edinburgh College, also explored how classical artists continue to inspire illustrators, designers and artists today.
Hayley added: “The artists in residence programme at Edinburgh College has allowed me to immerse myself in my practice and has been an excellent opportunity to work with both the students and the tutors. I feel privileged to be involved in the students’ creative process and I’m really looking forward to seeing what they do in the future.”
The SUN exhibition will take place at the Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop, 25 Hawthornvale, Edinburgh, EH6 4JT from 11am – 5pm on Saturday 15 February.
Submitted by Susannah Nichol
