Shed and a Half Gallery, London

 

 

Caroline Lefley
FICTIONAL SPACE

20 Nov - 11 Dec 2009

As part of this year's Photomonth celebration of photography, Carolyn Lefley is exhibiting her project "Within" with a solo show at the rooftop gallery Shed and a Half in Shoreditch, east London.

Set within the make-believe spaces of a doll's house Lefley's series "Within" explores our perception of what is real and what is imagined. The miniature rooms of the child's toy house are transformed by the photographic process into spaces of human scale. Deliberately ambiguous, Carolyn seeks to confuse us by placing domestic objects within each room, giving further encouragement to think the spaces are real. It is only on closer inspection we begin to see the oversized external staircase, the ill-fitting window frames and the shredded carpet that begin to undermine our understanding of what it is we are looking at.

Photographer Carolyn Lefley grew up in the suburbs of North London. After studying Fine Art at Coventry University she returned to London to complete her MA in Photography at Thames Valley University where she achieved a Distinction. In her early work "Semi-detached" Carolyn explores the familiar architecture of the suburban house with its bay windows and tidy front gardens; symbols of a certain class and affluence.

In her later works, "Belonging" and "Within", Carolyn continues to explore the domestic space but transfers her attention to the doll's house, a child's toy, but also an object enjoyed by adults who play out their fantasies and childhood memories. In creating a deliberate ambiguity as to whether the spaces are real or not, Carolyn introduces a tension to her carefully lit rooms into which the viewer can bring their own story.

Solo exhibitions included "Belonging" at House Gallery, London 2008 and Drukarnia, Poland, part of the Photomonth in Krakow 2008. Carolyn has also taken part in Group Shows, most recently this year at the Norwich Arts Centre and View Finder Photography Gallery, London and previously at Dray Walk Gallery, London 2006, Waterman's Art Centre, London 2005 and The Foundry, London 2004.

A video of Lefley discussing her work can be viewed at Troika Editions

The Exhibition runs from 20th November until 11 December and can be viewed by appointment by calling Vita Gottlieb on 07980 856 844 or via email info@shedandahalfgallery.com. For details about how to receive an invitation to the Private View on the 19th November please contact Troika Editions at info@troikaeditions.co.uk or by calling 020 7833 2330.

Image:
Caroline Lefley
Courtesy of Troika Editions, London
 

Shed and a Half Gallery
Studio 4, Back Building
150 Curtain Road
Shoreditch
London EC2A 3AR
+44 (0)20 7613 2479

+44 (0)7980 856 844

Shed and a Half Gallery

 

Caroline Lefley

 

Troika Editions