The conversation is broken

I am certainly not unique in using the circle as a metaphor for conversation. For me it started a long time ago with a conversation I made up between Jasper Johns and Josef Albers.  Jasper hollering ‘Hey Josef why so square?’ and Josef replying ‘Can’t you see why?’ From there I continued to use the circle as a way of conveying never-ending interactions, the meandering of thoughts, the dreaminess of road trips and the desire to settle into contentment

In this particular series I am using it as an exploration of dysfunction in communication, exploring the breakdown of dialogue.

Each print is a one-off piece, starting its life as a misprint from a previous edition. These would end up in the proofing paper drawer – the conversation stopped, the image was broken.  Time passed and I opened the drawer and thought ‘what was I thinking, why did I dismiss these?’ They became conversations I could pick up again and conclude.  Albeit a bit difficult to resolve, it was a reminder that perfection is not a human state that should be aimed for.

Having the unresolved screenprint as a starting point, I wanted to create a dynamic interplay between the intentional and the accidental, the pristine and the broken. Many of the pieces feature drawn elements, glitter, subtle colour-shifts with iridescence, while others are shockingly contrasted, as a visual ‘violence’.

In this way, the prints themselves reflect the subtle and not so subtle breaks in communication and the conversations that are currently being had on the large stages as well as the small and intimate stages.  Hopefully the resolution of the ‘broken’ prints shows potential for broken conversations to be renewed and transformed.

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The Conversation is Broken,  by Paula McLoughlin is at PCA Gallery, Studio 2 Guild, 152 Sturt Street Southbank, 16 September-3 October. Opening event 18 September 5-7pm

www.printcouncil.org.au

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