Lydia Gifford at L21 Gallery

Lydia Gifford, born in 1979 in UK, lives in Scotland and works between Ardnamurchan and London. Gifford’s practice is characterized by a unique mixture of painting and sculpture, diverging from traditional painting through her use of three-dimensional forms and unconventional materials.

In an early conversation with Lydia while preparing an exhibition and discussing what would be featured, I soon understood that her process is deeply intuitive, introducing an element of spontaneity in the construction of her pieces that evolve from responding to the process in the moment.

One of the most striking aspects of encountering Gifford’s work in person is the texture, which imparts a sculptural nuance. The materiality of her work plays a crucial role, as she layers materials to challenge the conventional formality of paint and support, embracing a post-formal approach.

An intriguing aspect of Lydia’s practice is the blending of materials, where paint becomes support, and colors merge into indistinguishable landscapes. This fusion demands close examination to appreciate the dimensions and depth fully. Her work maintains a balance between fluidity and hardness, a contrast that is the focus of the exhibition “Frictions.”

Gifford’s personal life and history are woven into her art through the use of linens and fabrics from her archive, imbuing her works with an intimate history connected to memory and emotion. The exploration of materiality is central to her practice; every intuitive choice and detail tells a story, creating works that exist autonomously yet invite comprehension.

In “Frictions,” we present a collection of works that, while closer to traditional painting, provide deeper insight into Gifford’s pictorial vocabulary and history. The experience of nature is evident in her work, likely influenced by her surroundings, which affect her color palette and structural vocabulary.

-Zé Ortigão