Alison McKay’s text based works possess a delicacy and intimacy that nostalgically connects to the written letter. The artist’s hand is prominently present as McKay cuts away the medium reveling the emotional center of the work contained in the negative space of the text.
There is a play between the public and private. The statements are intimate and personal. As the viewer reads them through windows in the envelopes, and interacts in a tactile manner, lifting the sheets, there is a sense of invasion. Touching private moments, reading letters that were not intended for you.
The pinnacle moment of the artist hand present in the work arises in McKay’s work Bite Me. The soft, intimate and ‘cheeky’ text is accompanied by the artist’s teeth marks embossed in paper. Confronting the audience by presenting herself, her body, her presence to the audience.
by Naomi O’Reilly
Alison McKay, Head to Toe 2013, Envelopes, Dimensions Variable