Hilary Ellis
My current work exhibits an obsessive preoccupation with repetition, a futile quest for regularity and the setting up of simple systems and processes in an attempt to impose order upon chaos.
Repetition is an important element of ritual and in the process of creation, rituals are established and become an integral part of the work. In the Western world at least, religion has ceased to occupy a central role in the lives of the majority of people, but many anthropologists and psychologists believe that there is a basic human need for ritual, so that as religious beliefs begin to die out, other rituals are developed to take their place.
Layering is a method I frequently use in order to build up surfaces, one on top the other – a working method which is time consuming and long drawn out. It is easy for ritualized behaviour to become obsessional. Sigmund Freus believed that there was only a very fine line between the ritual behaviour of the pious and the obsessional behaviour of neurotics.
My most recent work has been moving closer towards an obsessional labour intensive way of working which is process-orientated and in which there is often no underlying concept or idea. In this kind of work, the labour is its point. The process of obsession driven work is open-ended – there is no logical stopping point – the decision to stop has nothing to do with the finishing the piece – it can only be a random choice.
C.V.
EDUCATION
1991-92 Foundation Course Southport College
1993-96 B.A.(Hons)Fine Art Liverpool John Moores University (First Class)
1996-99 European Social Fund Research Fellowship in Drawing and Painting – St.
Helens’ College
2005-07 MA Printmaking, Camberwell College of Art (Distinction)
EXHIBITIONS
2008 Originals 08 – Contemporary Printmaking Exhibition, Mall Galleries
London (Prizewinner)
2007 The London Group, Menier Gallery, London
2007 Chichester Open Art Exhibition
2006 ‘Imprint’ Group Exhibition, The Gallery at R.K. Burt, London
2006 ‘Proof’ An exhibition by Artists of the MA Printmaking Course at
Camberwell College of Art, Kingsgate Gallery, London
2006 New London Artists Printmaking Show, Gallery J, Akebono-so, Japan
2005 Solo Exhibition, Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury
2005 The South East Open Print Exhibition, Wyards Print, Faversham
2004 Sefton Open Art Exhibition, Atkinson Art Gallery, Southport
2003 ‘By Invitation Only 3’ joint exhibition Southport Arts Centre
2003 Sefton Open Art Exhibition, Atkinson Art Gallery, Southport
2002 Sefton Open Art Exhibition, Atkinson Art Gallery, Southport
2001 Sefton Open Art Exhibition, Atkinson Art Gallery, Southport
2001 Solo Exhibition – Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool
2000 Sefton Open Art Exhibition Atkinson Art Gallery Southport
2000 Mini-Print Exhibition Bluecoat Café Bar Liverpool
1999 ‘The Order of Things’ Solo Exhibition as part of ‘TRACEY’ – Liverpool
Biennial at University of Liverpool Art Gallery
1999 Sefton Open Art Exhibition Atkinson Art Gallery Southport
1999 Joint Exhibition Parking Space Gallery Liverpool
1999 ‘Paperworks’Solo Exhibition of Printmaking Southport Arts Centre
1999 ‘Past/Present/Future’ Group Exhibition Temple Bar Gallery Dublin
1999 Artist in Residence – Southport General Infirmiry
1998 ‘Checkout’ Group Exhibition The Old Kwik Save Supermarket Toxteth
1998 Drawlab Exhibition Bury Art Gallery – Joint Curator
1998 Manchester Academy of Fine Arts Open Exhibition
1998 ‘Inside Outside’ – Solo Exhibition The Hanover Galleries Liverpool
1997 St. Helens Open Art Exhibition
1997 Liverpool Academy Awards (Prizewinner)
1997 Visionfest/Sefton Open Art Exhibition Atkinson Art Gallery Southport
1997 ‘Drawlab Painters’Exhibition Hanover Galleries Liverpool
1997 Drumcroon Open Exhibition Wigan
1996 St. Helens Open Art Exhibition (Prizewinner)
1996 ‘Evolution’ Exhibition of work in conjunction with Brian Eno and
featuring his generative music
1996 Lowick House Print Workshop Student Open
1989 Major Merseyside Artists Exhibition Port of Liverpool Building
AWARDS
1996 St.Helen’s Open Art Exhibition Prizewinner
1997 Liverpool Academy Awards Prizewinner
2007 Edward Ardizzone Award – Runner-up
2007 The Artichoke Print Workshop Prize 2007
2008 St. Cuthberts Paper Mill Award
COLLECTIONS
The Victoria and Albert Museum Print Collection
Work in Private Collections worldwide,including Australia,
France, Romania, Lebanon