Feb 10 -
Clare Richardson  Beyond the Forest (SteidlMACK, 2007)
Beyond the Forest is an evocative portrait of a remote collection of settlements in rural Transylvania, a place name which literally translates as beyond the forest. An isolated region, rich in folklore and myth, its inhabitants believe they are the direct descendants of the children that were led out of Hamlyn. The sparse beautiful medieval landscapes of Beyond the Forest have an undercurrent of something more sinister and illustrate why they have inspired the gothic imaginations of Mary Shelly and the Brothers Grim. Richardson’s work is subtly hypnotic and her colour palette of pastels and muted richness lends her images a painterly quality, without being wistfully sentimental. Her approach is intimate but restrained and always sympathetic to her subject, allowing the images to evoke the fantasy of myth, whilst grounding the narrative in reality. Beyond the Forest is an exquisite work and offers us an optimistic alternative to the disenchantments of transience and urbanity.
Claxton Projects also recommends: Harlemville (SteidlMACK, 2003)
