Digital pigment print with metallic silkscreen onto Somerset Velvet paper, 330gsm
42.5 x 29.1cm
Edition of 40, signed and numbered verso
About the work
Milly Thompson has created Ray grows irritated with the wait, 2022, especially for Whitechapel Gallery to accompany ‘The London Open 2022’, 30 June – 4 September 2022.
This digital pigment and metallic silkscreen print, relates closely to two recent paintings by the artist, currently on show at the Whitechapel Gallery as part of The London Open. Scuba Sauvage Poseidon, and Scuba Sauvage Azure Bleu, 2021, both depict older women being active and glamourous. Thompson’s women are enjoying the ageing process and have a sense of themselves as people who are looked at in public - as much concerned with style, posing and being framed as anyone else. With their ageing bodies they are still active members of society, engaged in ritualistic practices of self-care, and body maintenance.
“Ray is an older women waiting in a queue for a scheduled dive. She doesn’t want to be standing waiting for a boat to take her out. She is experienced and knows whats what. I’m thinking of her as an older ray (fish), wanting to get under the water, kill a few reef eating fish, dive for her lunch, float around, have a swim, meet friends afterwards for drinks later, but she’ll be late now because she’s having to queue. She feels that is beneath her!”
Milly Thompson.
About the artist
Milly Thompson (b. 1964, London, UK ) makes paintings that focus on older women’s bodies from a joyful perspective, ignoring negative tropes of ageing, instead celebrating experience and the pleasures of being older, which are subtle, but tangible. Thompson enjoys placing older women into slightly farcical, challenging environments, which might traditionally be seen as overwhelming to older women , such as deep sea diving, or being eco warriors, or just looking cool on a beach where they are surrounded by younger people.
Selected exhibitions
Recent exhibitions include NEARWITCHES , Timespan, Helmsdale (solo) (2021); Still Same Sexy, Ruby Cruel, London (solo) (2020); Naming Rights at Thomas Dane, Thomas Dane Gallery, London (2017); Cougar, Westminster Waste, London (solo) (2016); BANK: Fax-Backs, 1990s room, Tate Britain, London (2014); Ritual Volcanic, OHIO Gallery, Glasgow (solo) (2013); Saucisson Chiffonaire, 18. Milly Thompson, 26 Nicholas Matranga, 16. Eric D. Clark, Caribic Residency e.V, Lisbon (2011); Quixotic Sausage Scenario, Caribic Residency e.V, Hamburg (solo) (2010).
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