Dreamers
“Most of our childhood is stored not in photos, but in certain biscuits, lights of day, smells, textures of carpet.”
- Alain de Botton
The solo exhibition Dreamers at Hang Tough Contemporary comprises a series of figurative portraits that seek to evoke nostalgia and to convey the natural imaginative inclination of children through a dreamlike approach to painting.
Some time ago, Alana was given a set of family photographs which provided the initial source of inspiration for this body of work. These objects offered a direct line to her family lineage and through the process of visual analysis, she began to pry and discern meaning from this collection of photographs. Through this research, Barton’s core interest emerges.
In Dreamers she examines how complex emotions are captured in delicate gestures and expressions held by her sitters. She seeks to capture and communicate the pensive emotions of children, who are often not recognised as having rich emotional landscapes. She builds worlds around each child and honours the sometimes confusing and complex terrain of childhood.
Barton’s palette is surreal with neon and pastel hues merging with mature colours such as deep navy and subtle neutral tones. Her portraits are whimsical and playful whilst also grounded in a serious approach to portrait painting. The children have imagined identities, allowing anyone to project them-self into the work.
- Hang Tough Contemporary - Dublin, Ireland
