In Slip

Rosie Nicholson

Whilst the pure white of plaster work calls to mind perfectly proportioned classical nudes, detailed reliefs or the bust of a celebrated dignitary, Rosie Nicholson's works in this medium are original and unexpected. Blooming organic shapes that seem to swell and multiply before the eyes and intricately textured cylinders abound, as Rosie's practice leans in to the transformative nature of plaster to embrace the experimental and unexpected. 'Leaning Core', 'Excavations' and 'Excavation Stack' are at once reminiscent of classical columns and tree trunks or extracted ice cores. Whilst the central plaster pieces themselves are similar, their remarkably different presentations opens each up to different stories and interpretations. 'Excavation''s placement on a wire display implies an exhibit, a rare archaeological find, where 'Excavation Stack' suggests a column or plinth, and 'Leaning Core' placement in a group suggests discarded organic material like logs or tree trunks. 'In Slip' features smaller, softer-contoured pieces whose scattered placement calls to mind organic forms such as fungi, guts or worm casts. Across Rosie's work, this traditional material gains an unexpected vibrancy and unpredictability. Rosie is a 2023 graduate from Bath Spa, and is a New Blood Emerging Art Prize nominee.