Analysis of Claire Ashley's Catch

Catch (2016) by Claire Ashley

Spray paint on PVC-coated canvas tarpaulin, fan, and nylon rope

Viewed at University Galleries Cawt, Taut, Hot…Not Exhibition (September 6, 2016)

                Catch consists of a giant rope net hanging from the gallery ceiling, full of strange, blobby shapes made from PVC coated canvas tarp which has been inflated and spray painted.  Claire Ashley created this piece in 2016. It is currently located in Illinois State’s University Galleries. This is the first time this piece has been exhibited; however, it existed previously as separate objects which could be scattered over the floor. The net is hung around a pole near the center of the gallery room, which allows the viewer to walk all around the piece. The objects filling the net reach almost up to the high ceiling, allowing them to tower over the viewer.

                The net holds many of these inflated objects, most large enough for a person to fit inside, with a few smaller ones. The net has the effect of deforming their shapes, and is very full, with some objects looking like they are about to fall out. The objects appear soft and squishy, like stuffed animals or pillows. Some resemble organs or sea creatures, such as a sea urchin or a shell. Each one contains an enormous variety of colors. These colors are largely pastel or neon. The rope used for the net fits in with this color scheme, being a bright yellow. One organ-like object in particular stands out from the rest, because it is a very bright hot pink and because it is not in the net like the others, but sitting on the ground next to them.

                The net creates the main lines in the piece. The vertical ropes which start at the ceiling generally head down and in toward the center, so that the net narrows towards the bottom. Distortion from the objects results in a very irregular network of lines around the piece. These net lines create various geometric shapes within their open areas. In contrast, the objects filling it are very organic in nature. They feature soft, curved edges. While some do have points, these points still appear squishy, like those of a pillow.

                The objects are painted in an array of child-like, pastel colors. Some also feature brighter, more neon colors, and there are a few hints of black and metallic silver. The light colors result in a similar value throughout, even though there are so many different colors. The areas with brighter colors become dominant, such as the pink organ mentioned earlier. However, there is some darker value created through shadow between the objects, and especially on the inside towards the center of the net. These areas take on a dark, mysterious quality, since one cannot see very well what is beyond the outer “shell” of objects.

                The objects in the net seem like they would be very soft and cushiony. Something about these perceived “friendly” characteristics makes it very difficult to refrain from touching them. It is oddly similar to the feeling one gets when seeing cute animals.

                The piece creates an interesting sense of space with the objects stacked up inside the net. Some start to spill out of the net, hanging out over the viewer. Others end up with space between them, providing a glimpse into what might lay behind or underneath them. The intrigue of this is increased with a stomach-like object placed into a dark space between several larger objects. It suggests there may be more odd things to be found inside.

                While the objects are many different shapes, they all have the same sort of pillow-like quality, which creates a sense of unity. They all appear to have come from the same source and are perhaps just different “species” of whatever it is that they are. Variety is provided by the different sizes and by some areas being brighter in color.

                The net contains pretty equal amounts of objects around all sides of the pole. It appears very top heavy though, since the net narrows at the bottom. This, along with the way objects bulge through the holes in the net and the large scale, gives the impression that the net is struggling to contain all the objects. At any moment, it could break and the objects would come spilling down upon the viewer.

                Emphasis seems directed at the smaller objects or smaller pieces of larger objects. Things like organ shapes or the spikes of the sea-urchin like one stand out against the field of larger, smoother, mainly round shapes. Bright spots of color also draw attention in comparison to the more pastel colors. The hot pink organ form in particular seems the most dominant by its color and placement.

                The piece is very large compared to the viewer. Its top-heaviness adds to the effect of towering over everyone. Its closeness to the wall on one side has the effect of almost cutting off whoever goes back there from the rest of the room. Within the piece, most of the objects are large, and tend to crush the smaller ones they are sitting on. The objects take up a lot of space in the room, but seem very “floaty” in nature. One can imagine picking them up and tossing them around like balls. The net configuration actually resembles the crates of inflated balls found in stores.

                The piece has its own sort of lumpy rhythm as one walks around it. The objects have their own lumps and peculiar shapes individually, and together they create new shapes, almost like they become a new organism when put together. This would give a new meaning to the organ-like pieces. Different relationships between objects can be found as one walks around the piece. Some hang far out of the net at the top, others are spilling out at the bottom. Some are squished while others are fully inflated.

                 Overall, the work has many characteristics associated with childhood. The neon and pastel colors and soft shapes speak to this, as well as the vertical net which resembles those that hold balls or stuffed animals. There is then a strange alien quality as well, coming from the objects’ large size and strange shapes.  This combination of familiarity and curiosity tends to evoke a childlike response in the viewer. There is a compulsion to touch them, to crawl into the dark spaces between the objects and see what is inside. However strange they may be, these objects offer a glimpse into childhood, a common experience for all.