Linger

Leanne Xiu Williams

18 - 29 September 2024

Saint Cloche gallery is proud to present ‘Linger’, the second solo exhibition by popular artist Leanne Xiu Williams.

In this body of work, Leanne Xiu Williams delves into the nuances of impermanence, sensation, and the residual impressions left in their wake. Employing two distinct palettes - one brooding and atmospheric, the other light and ephemeral - Williams navigates the complexities of memory and perception. The interplay of light and dark functions as a metaphor for contrasting states of being. Darkness envelops and obscures, creating a suggestive, surreal atmosphere that draws the viewer into a dreamlike reflection. In contrast, the lighter, more ephemeral sensations emerge through the softness and materiality of the canvas, grounding the work in a tactile, sensory experience.

These dual perspectives invite the viewer to engage actively with the work, reflecting on the transient nature of memory and how recollection shifts over time. Williams’ exploration of stillness and change transforms memories into fluid, evolving impressions, revealing their impermanence and the subtle traces they leave behind. This exhibition marks a continued investigation into the poetic tension between presence and absence, capturing the fleeting essence of our emotional and sensory experiences.

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"‘Linger’ explores impermanence, sensation and the impressions we are left with.

Through my body of work, I investigate how themes of stillness and transience shape our perception of memories. Photography plays a central role in my process, forming the basis for most of my work. By taking and collecting photographs - intentionally and incidentally - painting serves as a mediation on the dreamlike state of recollection and how memories transform over time. Images can both construct and substantiate our memories, revealing how experiences are distilled into sensations and impressions that shift through various modes of experience.

The concurrent themes of light and dark in this body of work represent different states of being. Darkness shrouds and obscures but is also suggestive and surreal, drawing the viewer into a dreamlike state. On the other hand, more ephemeral sensations are expressed through softness and the materiality of the canvas, grounding the work in a tangible, sensory experience. Both perspectives engage the viewer as an active participant, inviting them to reflect on the process of recollection."

About Leanne Xiu Williams

Leanne Xiu Williams is based on Gadigal land (Sydney) working primarily in painting. A self-taught artist with a degree in Art History from the University of Sydney, her work delves into the intimate complexities of human connection. Drawing inspiration from still life, portraiture, and figuration, Williams’ practice emphasises the evocative potential of light and shadow to transcend mere representation. Her paintings resonate with emotional depth, invoking memories, dreams, and fleeting sensations that linger beyond the canvas.

Williams recently collaborated with Two Good Co on their third book, Change the Course, and her work has been featured in The Design Files. A finalist in the Portia Geach Memorial Art Award, 2023, she is represented by Saint Cloche gallery.