Michael Kennedy

2nd - 20th March 2010

Opening: Tues 2nd March, 5.30 – 7pm

In Michael Kennedy’s exhibition ‘Rise of the Turnips’, light hearted satire of contemporary culture and its increasing co-dependence on technology is characterised in the form of cute and curious illustrations.

Influenced by American Pop-surrealism, the artist presents us with cuddly and innocent archetypes, often framed within the format of a portrait. These creatures appear friendly, easy company, but seem almost to be victims of their own plight. The depiction of characters as vegetables transforms the well known phrase ‘couch-potato’ into an overwhelming reality where it becomes difficult to distinguish truth from fiction; this is the substance of children’s television programmes.

Kennedy’s move toward more painterly surface qualities empowers his response to the language of the media. The luscious paint announces the presence of the artist who applied it, reminding us that what we see is the product of a free imagination, and that we too are not mere passive observers of the media, but living beings who can respond with originality, creativity, and celebration.