chesca athas
about the workMy work is self-referential, reflecting on my own existence as a girl, daughter, sister, friend, lover, consumer…
I navigate domestic objects around me and find opportunity in the unexpected beauty of mundane items.
For a work like Take a Seat at the Table (2021), my goal was to set the table with symbols of the capitalist-elite – my audience ought to admire their perfection but are also urged to consider their superficiality because their imagery is only as stunning as what consumerist culture promises its customers. In a sense, this work is self-aware of its own ostentation and derives significance from its failure to escape the confines of materialism.
how it beganI’ve grown up in a pretty creative home, being one of four children, I’m constantly surrounded by a younger brother who’s in the line-up to be the next Alexander McQueen, and two older sisters, one freshly graduated from art school in New York, and one very savvy business woman, founder and director of a creative agency known as Hatrik House. These guys definitely continue to be an influence as well as the inspiration I gather from unlikely places around me such as local supermarkets, the internet, my household etc…
Banana (2021)
Oil paint on canvas
153 x 153mm
audience engagementOur minds are prone to over-consumption and in a way, my work exposes the false promises of consumerism as I aim to invite the observer into an obscured, yet equally accurate journey of modern indulgence. Iconic branding in my work functions as a quiet, but constant exchange as the logos represent an acceptance, that we as consumers subconsciously manifest an identity through these choices… or perhaps consciously? In the end, I’m hoping my audience will find a pleasant space between their own self-awareness and self-indulgence.
locating the worksOther than bombarding my Instagram with an abundance of random pieces and work-in-progress shots, I have recently launched a website (link above) to share a more formal portfolio and offer pieces on commission.
aspirationsIn terms of what’s next, I’m really enjoying creating work for other people, particularly a couple of projects I’ve been working on for small businesses (both female operated), collaborating like this is definitely something I would like to push further. Each project informs one thing after the next for me - I’m currently working on a personal series of still life paintings so hopefully a body of work on a larger scale can evolve from this, and maybe a solo exhibition (or a few) is a goal for 2022!
