Juley Hudson - www.juleyhudson.com



Over years I have built up a visual vocabulary of forms, themes and motifs in my work. This vocabulary is communicated through symbols, which have particular meanings. At present my work is about investigating memory/memories and the mystery of absence. I have investigated this theme through several series of drawings using a variety of media from traditional drawing materials to dust drawings, which develop ideas for a large scale mixed media installations such as ‘Mnemonic Memoriam’ 2004, ‘Shades of Meaning 2007/8’ and ‘Captured’ 2008. Through these pieces I wanted to create a vehicle for thought to encourage the viewer to explore their own personal experiences and memories.

Shades of Meaning 2007/8
Is a large scale 3d drawing in space in which, the viewer is encouraged to venture into the Installation. The placement of the sculptures creates smaller detailed drawings within the larger drawing and the varying scales create areas of detail and intensity. As the viewer walks through, around and amongst the sculptures, the shapes begin to change both in form and proportion. Standing within and looking through them, they become a series of overlapping shapes and a complex network of lines and forms. This creates the sensation of becoming part of the drawing and the journey or pathway the viewer takes, creates their own line in the drawing. The installation is lit to cast shadows adding even more outlines and creating a sinister, claustrophobic atmosphere. The shadows become enlarged and distorted creating another layer to the complex three dimensional drawing.

Mnemonic Memoriam 2004
Black cut out velvet shapes cover the walls, each individually placed to create a drawing. The wall drawing (titled Cameo) gives a feeling of flock wallpaper. The placement of the shapes is carefully considered, following neither a formula nor a pattern. At a glance they are like shadows but over time they play optical tricks and seem to move and float, casting a ghostly after image. The pieces mounted on this wall drawing consist of pencil drawings, dust drawings, a print, a photograph, a wall piece and freestanding vitrines. Creating a curious collection of trinkets or memorabilia; reflecting and repeating the shapes on the walls. Nothing is tangible all the shapes repeated in the pieces are either drawn or frozen in dust; there is nothing physical to grasp or to hold on to except powerful emotions and memories. The room evokes a feeling of something once present celebrating the mystery of absence and the power of memories.

Captured 2008
This installation was created on site for Durham Arts festival 2008 Every room has a personal history and stories to tell from the people that inhabited it; its function and the styles and designs of the different times, reflecting the personal tastes of those who used the space. Feelings, happenings, sounds, voices, smells evoke deeper memories. The layers and layers of paper and paint form a historical membrane trapping the memories embedded within them. Captured consists of drawings engraved on the window panes of the room. The windows represent the windows to the soul and to another world; a way to escape beyond the room and a vehicle for reflection, hope and imagination. Staring out of windows evokes thoughts, dreams and memories. These thoughts and memories are etched into our minds some remembered in detail drawings interpret our ability to remember they will consist have symbols used in previous works, which represent emotive feelings. Some of the symbols are be etched in detail and others are outlines, some overlapping causing confusion to emulate the remembering process.