Liz Clifford
"Liz Clifford's practice amalgamates found objects, flora and detritus in caged durational sculptures that resist being contained. These socio-geological studies speak directly to the climate crisis and the effect of the Anthropocene on our Earth. Through spillages onto the spaces they inhabit, the works remind us of the fallacy of controlling the land, as it seeps through the hands of its controller." Ricardo Reverón Blanco. Curator and Programme Manager at Aspex Portsmouth.
https://www.ricardoreveronblanco.org/
The work is concerned, on a micro level, with a narrow locale and specific objects. However, on a macro level it is engaged with discourse about geological time, climate change and environmental breakdown.
Central to my practice is the daily act of walking in the landscape of the South Downs National Park. It is where materials and subject matter are found. The walk is an act of self-care as well as care for the place, clearing litter as I go. The human-made detritus I collect, the materiality of those objects, the act of walking and the hill itself are my subject matter.
This repetitive focus on landscape and geology has allowed me to explore concerns around fossil-fuelled recreation, plastic-waste, and erosion, through drawing and sculpture. The sculptural works combine found objects, waste matter and flora. I manipulate the detritus of agri-business and recreation to highlight issues of pollution and slow violence whilst aiming at a sustainable practice through the use of recycled materials.
My method of construction is low-tech, binding together the salvaged materials, which range from discarded domestic fabric to brick, steel and fencing wire. Tying and knotting is appropriate to their lowly status. These are ‘making do’ joining methods that evolve with circumstances and are associated with ‘fixing things’ in domestic and agricultural contexts.
2021 - M.A. Fine Art, University for the Creative Arts, Farnham
1985 - B.Ed.(Hons) Fine Art and Education, Homerton College, University of Cambridge
Associate Artist, Chapel Arts Studios, Andover, Hampshire
Member, Royal Society of Sculptors
Group Exhibitions and Projects.
2024
Belonging, Chapel Arts Studios, Andover, Hampshire
MK Calling, MK Gallery, Milton Keynes.
Chapel Arts Studios Open, Seeing Red, Andover, Hampshire
2023
spudOPEN, Spudworks, Sway, Hampshire.
Little Forest Land Art Competition, Boarhunt, Hampshire.
Splynta/s p l i n t e r, Black Box Project Space, UCA, Farnham, Surrey.
2022
Transient Traces, UCA Farnham Sculpture Garden, Surrey.
Boundaries, Hampshire Sculpture Trust at West Downs Gallery, University of Winchester.
Gallery No.32, Winter Sculpture Park 2022, Bexley, London.
2021
Haus a Rest, Land Art. Curated online exhibtion.
Alt-terior, 2021 MA Fine Art Graduates, James Hockey Gallery, UCA Farnham, Surrey
Bedrock, The Oast House, Farnham, Surrey
Forgotten Thought, MA Fine Art UCA Farnham Exhibition, Safehouse 1, Peckham, London
Unsettled Focus, MA Fine Art UCA Farnham Exhibition, South Molton St Gallery, London
Artists Responding To A.R.T. online zine Issue 7
The Sky Has No Surface. Curated online exhibition.
Beyond the Boundaries. University for the Creative Arts, Farnham and online @undertowprojects
2020
Haus a Rest. The Environment. Curated online exhibition.
You Are Here. Curated online exhibition.
Under(cover) - Art made during lockdown. Instagram. mafineartucafarnham
2019
Objections, Linear Gallery, University for the Creative Arts, Farnham
2017
Inspired by the Word, Petersfield Museum, Hampshire
2015
10 days Chalk, The Winchester Gallery, Winchester School of Art, Winchester, Hampshire
2014
Mottisfont Open, National Trust, Mottisfont Abbey, Romsey, Hampshire
2011
Under The Beeches, public woodland, rural Hampshire
2009
Hampshire Sculpture Trust, The Winchester Gallery, Winchester School of Art, Hampshire
In To Land, Arlington Arts Centre, Newbury, Berkshire
2008
Auf Europaïsche Art, Historischen Rathaus, Warendorf, Germany
Hampshire Sculpture Trust, Winchester Gallery, Winchester School of Art, Hampshire
2007
PAinT Arts Trail, Open Studio, The Avenue, Petersfield, Hampshire
2000
Art in the Garden, Beatrice Royal Gallery, Eastleigh, Hampshire
Little Gems, Beatrice Royal Gallery, Eastleigh, Hampshire
1999
Women's Work, Willis Museum, Basingstoke, Hampshire
1998
Open Dialogue, Forest Arts, New Milton, Hampshire
Voyage around George Staunton, Staunton Country Park, Havant - Hampshire Sculpture Trust
1997
Hiding Places, Red House Museum, Christchurch, Dorset - collaboration with Kate Miller
1996
Angels and Mechanics - Touring to Riverside Studios, South Hill Park Arts Centre, Tullie House - London, Bracknell and Carlisle
Touchables, Blackfriars Arts Centre, Boston, Lincolnshire
Unfamiliar Familiarity, Winchester Contemporary Art, Hampshire
1994
Sculpins, Dartington Arts, Devon - collaboration with Jilly Sutton
Whitechapel Open, Whitechapel Gallery, London
1993
London Group, Barbican Centre, London
Feast, Hardware Gallery, London
1992
Barbican Arts Group Trust, Sutton House, National Trust, London
1991
Lyth Arts Centre, Caithness, Scotland
Princes Trust, Fifteenth Anniversary, Windsor
1990
Beast, Submarine Gallery, London
1989
Barbican Arts Group Trust, Metropole Arts Centre, Folkestone
Reactivart, Submarine Gallery, London
Solo Exhibitions and Projects.
2024
Verge, Chapel Arts Studios, Andover, Hampshire
2021
Byway 745 Observatory, Wheatham Hill, Hampshire
1999
Forest Arts Centre, New Milton, Hampshire
1992
Academy Literary Club, London
High Water, Omphalos Arts, Sandwich, Kent
1991
St Bartholomew's Hospital, London
1990
Burial at Sea, Windsor Arts Centre, Berkshire
Submarine Gallery, London
1988
Hardware Gallery, London
Residencies, Talks and Workshops
2024 Chapel Arts Studios, Andover. Artists Takeover.
2023 Artists' talk, Little Forest Land Art Competition
2022 Artists’ Walk & Talk, Gallery No.32, Bexley, London
2021 Artist’s talk and tutorials, Fine Art Foundation Course, University for the Creative Arts
2021 Digital Residency @undertowprojects
2020 Artist’s talk and tutorials, Fine Art Foundation Course, University for the Creative Arts
1997 Workshop leader for Hiding Places, Red House Museum, Christchurch, Dorset
1996 Workshop leader, Andover Museum, Andover, Hampshire
1994 Barbican Arts Group Trust, St. Dominic's Junior School, Hackney, London
1991 Artist in Residence, Lyth Arts Centre, Caithness, Scotland
Awards
2023 Winner, Little Forest Land Art Competition
2023 Shortlisted for Zealous Amplify Environment Award
Work in Collections
Clare College, Cambridge
St Thomas' Hospital, London
