Undertones is a solo exhibition by artist April White to be held at Salerno Gallery, Glebe from 19 ^th March to 1^st April, 2012.

Intriguing, larger-than-life figurative images make a heart-felt humanistic statement of strength in vulnerability.  The trade mark beautiful, long-necked, fragile figures hold themselves with dignity – their emotional, mental and psychological states bare for all to see.  These figures occupy a unique and peaceful place in-between the complex mysterious layers of human existence.

The narrative of this work is created with layers of pencil on clay board, creating an alabaster skin tone that is translucent and revealing.  The figures are barely located within the world; their inner realities being more real.

The work functions emotionally, evoking a sometimes-teasing narrative of interplay between inner and outer worlds.  To see these works one could feel pulled in to a world of calm after the storm, the peace after the treaty but something lies beneath the surface.. is there still a battle raging on some level? Facial features exude signs of exertion that shadow the happiness felt once wisdom has been won.

As April White explains:

“My current series of surreal portrait drawings reflect my personal experience as an artist and as a human being trying to find order in a world of chaos. With frenetic pencil lines and thin layers of gouache combined with scratches on a surface (clay board) that becomes soft when wet, layers are formed, textures and shapes are created that work together to express layers abstract thought and convey emotion.”

April White has been exploring inner worlds for over a decade of arts practice.  Her figures are often animal or feminine; and occasionally draw universal experience from her own journeys with depression, anxiety, eating disorder, and a youth spent in the long, cold winters of her native Canada.  Now based in Sydney Australia her vision has been recognised as a finalist in the Adelaide Perry Drawing Prize 2011, Blacktown City Art Prize 2011, Waverley Art Prize 2011, Muswellbrook Open Art Prize 2011, and the Crocket Group Art Prize (2007, 2009, and 2010).  White has also picked up People’s Choice Awards at Bent Art Blue Mountains (twice), and Newtown Art Exhibition.  April works full time as an artist at Lennox Street Studios in Newtown.

April White completed a BFA, Specialised Honours Degree in Fine Arts Drawing at York University, Canada. She has a long-term interest in both figurative and landscape art, using studies of people, culture and nature on her extensive travels across Canada, Europe, Asia and Australia to ground her exploration of inner worlds.

Undertones is open from 19^th March through 1^st April at Salerno Gallery, 70 Glebe Point Road, Glebe, NSW 2037 Australia. Opening Hours: Tuesday to Friday, 10:00am – 5:30pm, Saturday : 10:00am – 3:30pm and Sunday & Monday by appointment.

Phone: (02) 9660 0899.

Website http://www.salernogallery.com/exhibitions/
Opening Reception: Friday, 23^rd March from 6pm until 8pm.

For media enquiries contact Arran Salerno on 0417 504 677

Or Email contact@salernogallery.com, writetoapril@yahoo.ca