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ART EXHIBITION: ‘Duality, Colours and Patterns’, a solo show by Henrietta Ackah-Joyce is opening at ArtHouse, Southport on August 6
‘Duality, Colours and Patterns’, a solo show by Henrietta Ackah-Joyce is opening at ArtHouse, Southport next month. Born in London, Henrietta Ackah-Joyce (known to her friends as, Rita) didn’t have much encouragement from those around her growing up in Hull and then Liverpool.
Rita said: “Throughout my school years I believed that I was a failure at everything so was destined for a dreary life of drudgery. However, my detractors were proved wrong, as I have enjoyed a long, varied career teaching, counselling, writing and delivering courses.”
Although finding time to pursue her artistic leanings often had to take a back-seat from the demands of her workload as a primary school teacher, it is only recently that Rita has been able to step away from education and devote all her energies to following her passion. She said “Since retiring five years ago I have been able to focus on my own artwork and enjoyed attending numerous virtual and in person training courses. My art has evolved over time into mixed media techniques incorporating fluid art, found items, prints, photography and recycled objects.”
Her enthusiasm to seek out new artistic challenges not only took over her life but also her house. She explained: “This resulted in a very cluttered home filled with art canvases, paints and paintings. Fortunately, I found studio space above the Southport Contemporary Art Gallery and discovered the Southport Contemporary Arts community of fellow artists that has been a Godsend. Joining SCA has opened a wonderful world of inspirational, supportive, like-minded fellow artists.”
Naturally gregarious, Rita continues to challenge convention as her freewheeling spirit directs her own distinctive handwriting. She says: “Through different art forms I aim to create abstract art that reflects the world around me. My latest artwork was inspired initially by a gift of a beautiful West African costume.
“Subsequently, my interest was further ignited when visiting Brixton market in London, where I wove in and out of African clothes stall ablaze with beautifully patterned vibrant coloured, shapes and textured fabrics. This led to the creation of my current art collection in which I utilised my favoured mediums of acrylics, resin with natural and found fragments such as shells, stones and recyclable objects.”
This heady artistic mix is well to the fore in all of the work on display at the ArtHouse where Rita’s exploitation of her cultural references stretches her skill base even further: “Despite looking like embellished dress fabric, my green embossed pattern was created by painting a gradient base of acrylic paint onto canvas. After this dried, I stencilled a pattern on the canvas using modelling paste and paint.
“I was experimenting using this technique to create patterns similar to the patterns used in traditional West African batik fabrics. The colours I used were influenced by the colours traditionally used in West Africa, however I muted the palette for a European audience.”
Liquid art has increasingly become an investigative means of translating her research. Rejoicing in the endless creative possibilities, it is the spontaneity and unpredictability of the brushless technique that fascinates Rita: “This technique involves the use of a pouring medium mixed with acrylic paint or mica pigments or inks.
“The acrylic paints react with each other when combined to make interesting and visually organic motifs. For my diptych paintings I used a combination of fluid art techniques. Firstly I created a gradient background. Secondly I drew a circle and painted around the circle.
“Thirdly, using a Dutch pour technique, I created the foreground by pouring on a transparent base paint. The amazing thing for me is the reveal when the painting is completed. Often, it doesn’t look like I envisioned, but that is all part of experimenting.”
The serendipity of much of Rita’s artwork has become totally addictive and shows no sign of letting up. She continued: “Moving forward I plan to experiment further by combining other fluid art techniques coupled with West African influences in colour and pattern.”
Evidence of Henrietta’s latest free-flowing exploits will be on view at the ArtHouse, Eastbank Street, Southport from August 6-24 2024. The gallery is open Tuesday – Friday, 10am – 3pm and Saturday, 11am – 4pm.
Location: Southport, Merseyside
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