Born in Buckinghamshire in 1976, Rachel Wickremer is a Canterbury based painter known for her colourful work.
Exploring the relationship between the maker and the prefabricated, she is interested in lines, pattern and the space in-between.
Her process involves injecting manufactured polycarbonate sheets with acrylic paint which is then repetitively drawn on to obtain a depth of line which dramatically alters the initial tone of the painting.
Rachel says “Taking inspiration from the built environment around me I explore the control, the lines in which we are restricted and bound to. These spaces contain planes, forms, reflections and shadows, tying us to our surroundings. Creating pattern and depth I celebrate the geometrical shape and structures and explore these limitations we unconsciously accept and even embrace”
– Rachel creates optical and kinetic works with densely wrapped surfaces in bright colour threads. As the viewer moves alongside the works, a colourful optical illusion is experienced. Rachel aims to push the relationship between colour, form and three-dimensional space.
– Her practice explores how the slightest shifts in viewing angle can create visual movement and intensity of colour. The lines of thread that sit on the surface of the work serve as a kind of aperture, through which light passes, they can be a way into the painting, or posts to mark the landscape. While creating the works she uses as few elements as possible, and lets each element play its role fully. The application of parallel threads in a repetitive and consistent method accumulates to create tension. Rachel is fascinated by how light, depth and feeling can be rendered through process.
– Rachel studied Fine Arts and Textiles and her particular interest is to combine found and industrial materials that have opposite or contrasting properties.