200 x 145 cm | 78 x 57 in
Subject: Animals
Tags:
Animals,
Conceptual,
Beast
Original painting in acrylic on paper.
My pickles piece makes reference to the uncanny, human nature and absurdity. The pickles are a reference to a previous artwork that was based on a humorous experience of mine - I dropped a giant jar of pickles in morrisons and the supermarket worker called me pickle girl. Since this experienced I started adding pickles into my work because I consider myself a ‘pickles girl’ - a phrase also made popular on social media that coincides with the recent tiktok trend ‘girl dinner’. Pop culture and meme culture often play a role in my work.
The wolfhead and dogs are a not to our own human nature and the desires we are still driven by despite considering ourselves a civilised society. The dog staring while nervously but defiantly taking a s*** kind of mocks the viewing - reminds them that they too s*** like every other animal.
The figure holding the teddy is a reference to my childhood teddy and best friend - Piggy - I grew up as an only child and spent a lot of time living in my imaginary world. I have discovered that making work in a similar process to the way I made images in childhood is often successful - this is a nod to that personal touch. I guess it is also good for encouraging play within my own practice.
Playful, provocative, funny and frank, Freya Povlsen's work is influenced by the rebellious spirit of contemporary female artists such as Lisa Brice and Jenna Gibbon, with a healthy dose of humour thrown in for good measure. Echoes of Paula Rego are palpable in the strong, defined figures of 'Let The Eat Cake' and 'Gluttonous Treat 1 & 2', as the sumptuous purple tones which permeate Freya's work are set off by deep blues and splashes of raspberry red and burgundy. Focusing on female figures arrayed in theatrical poses, Freya's interest in our animal instincts also leads to a consideration of the canine, as dogs are depicted in a range of mediums, full of character and life force. These interests merge in 'Wolfhead', which depicts a humanoid figure with a wolf's head, reminiscent of ancient Egyptian god Annubis, protector of graves and guide to the underworld, as well as a host of pagan gods including the Norse Fenrir and the Greek Artemis. Working across a range of mediums including clay, silicone, plaster, acrylic and pastels, throughout these diverse works Freya's focus on audacity and wry humour hold true.
David Blyth, Contemporary Art Practice Course Leader and Academic Strategic Lead (Fine Art) at Gray's School of Art:
Freya’s practice is heavily underpinned through drawing, painting and objects, and she works with ideas of empowerment and attitude, utilising the picture plain as a theatrical construct and narrative to create her dynamic outcomes.