Sam M Harley

Harley’s practice explores ideas of everyday aesthetics with a focus on mundane throwaway objects. Our everyday lives are so repetitive that we often overlook the simple things in life and do not give attention to these objects. Through Harley’s mark-making and clever combination of the 2-D with 3-D, defamiliarisation occurs with the work. The objects Harley uses are found on the streets and have been rejected by the original owner. She re-purposes the neglected by defuncting the intention of the product. Harley up-cycles the objects to create a tension between high art and the disused.

Harley’s practice also considers the traditions of painting. Areas of thick impasto oil paint contrast with watery thin washes of acrylic as well as the matte interior house paint. By not stretching canvas correctly, painting onto the walls behind the work, displaying work on readymades and purposefully letting oil seep out, consider the conventions of painting. Marks in the works are closely related to abstract expressionism, minimalism and cobra art movements.