ART WORKS
Still Lives, 1997-98

Still Lives is a series of 10 digital framed prints (each an edition of 3). The earlier prints in the series depict a person with an animal or animals looking from outside into their space through doors or windows. In the later pictures, the animals are apparently inside the room with the person. The juxtaposition often suggests a moment in a narrative or drama to which the beginning or end are not known. The titles are also integral and collectively hint at a script:

She didn't need her eyes open in order to see
Her life became nocturnal
She imagined she knew the future
It was on the tip of her tongue
Fear was her crime

Another time, Another place
His values were personal
He felt at one with nature
The past would surely spoil his dream
Hope was his Glory

Many of the animals that appear in these works are stuffed animals that have been photographed by Abigail in their dioramas at various museums around the world. (Taxidermy and dioramas have always been of particular interest to her). These images were digitally collaged onto photographs she took of people in domestic situations. The models in the photographs are friends or family.

Some of the works were first shown, together with the Never Never Mind video installation, at Andrehn Shiptjenko gallery, Sweden in 1997 and in various groupings after that: Chantal Crousel gallery, Paris in 1997, Lyon Biennale in 1997, MCA Chicago in 1998, Vera Munroe gallery, Hamburg in 1998, Kunstverein Frieburg, Marienbad and touring Germany in 2000-01. However, the works have not been exhibited all together as yet.

In 2005 some of the Still Life images were printed again much bigger. Fear was her crime was printed and framed at this larger scale so that it would hang close to the floor - having the effect that the viewer was almost inside the scene. It was exhibited as part of London Calling, Kaare Berntsen gallery, Oslo in 2005.

 

Fear was her crime
1 of 13
Fear was her crime
1998
Ink jet print on paper
100 x 69cm unframed
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