In the 25th anniversary exhibition of the Deák Erika Gallery, Colourful: the form, the outline, the colour, three internationally renowned artists, Helen Beard, Annie Morris and Kristina Schuldt, bring together their works in the gallery space. Although their practices are unique and different, they meet along the lines of line, form and colour. In addition, all three artists are fascinatingly linked to twentieth-century art historical movements, cubism, futurism, abstract expressionism and pop art. Although all three draw inspiration from trends and movements of a hundred years ago, they speak in a fresh and contemporary language, analysing current world phenomena and giving them a female perspective. All three artists have been influenced by the ideas of colour theory, and they play excitingly with the emotions evoked by shades, using their spots as both mapping and ornament.
The exhibition is also the gallery’s 25th anniversary exhibition, and is therefore set in a historical context with references to both the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. Since Erika Deák has always been a strong supporter of women artists, long before this became a trend in gallery programming, it is no coincidence that the curators and artists of this exhibition are also women. The exhibition features works by three women artists, and the works explore three artistic tools and languages: form, contour and colour. Each of these artists’ work is closely linked to these concepts, but they approach them in very different ways.