Lily-White

Gemma Browne

14 July 2006 - 11 August 2006

Kevin Kavanagh is pleased to present, Lily-White, an exhibition of ten new paintings by Gemma Browne who currently lives and works in Antwerp, Belgium.

Gemma Browne’s new body of work, Lily-White, captures the freshness, innocence and possibilities of youth. She refers to Lily-White as something pure, irreproachable, and clean. Made up of composites of images of teenagers from fashion magazines, the images strive to conjure a world of youth and its endless possibilities and optimism.

The slightly smiling girls exude innocence and childlike quality, a self-ssuredness and confidence that one does not usually associate with those so young. They seem to come from a gentler era and are without the quiet anxiety and unease that can be associated with our culture’s notions of youth. The vivid blue backgrounds are reminiscent of endless warm summers, of happier times full of possibility, pregnant with hope and optimism. Similarly, the use of soft candy colours, soft blue and pinks and the prevalence of white, can be associated with childhood and fashions of previous eras.

Similarities can be seen in each of the works, lending a certain uniformity to the work. Each girl differs slightly, a different outfit, a different smile yet all possess the semblance of innocence of youth. Yet, behind the smiles, there is a knowingness, a confidence. It’s as if each of these girls understand the territory and the qualities of youth. The individual loses her qualities, her fixed identity within the crowd, conforming to type. They adhere to the codes of behaviour, the rules are unbroken.

Ruth Carroll, 2006




A catalogue with an essay by Ruth Carroll has been published to accompany the exhibition. For further information please contact the gallery.
Title: Gemma Browne
ISBN: 0-9552525-4-7

back to all shows