In her new body of work Rebecca draws deeply on her experiences of a residency in Mexico City in late 2023 alongside the theme of the circus. Both become a metaphor in the paintings for taking risks and ‘imposter syndrome’. The title for the exhibition comes directly from this, however through the creative act she transforms this into a celebration of walking into the unknown. It speaks to our daily need to suspend disbelief and continue anyway.
The Mexico residency was an overwhelming experience. She says she painted quickly to capture what she saw. Her time there coincided with the annual Day of The Dead celebrations. The city was awash with people dressed up in exuberant costumes and marigold flowers. She was struck by how comfortable the Mexican people are with their own dreams and imagination.
There is a deep sense of personal evaluation in Rebecca’s figurative paintings which has formed the backbone of her practice for many years as she explores our collective sense of place in the world, physical and imaginary. In this incredibly rich exhibition, we delve deeper into these key themes of her practice and come to question our place in the performance of life.
The private view for ‘Marvellous Suspension of Disbelief’ will be an opportunity for you to meet Rebecca Swainston & Lucy Atkins, as well and listen to the conversation between them about the meanings behind Rebecca’s work. You will also have the chance to grab a copy of Lucy’s new fiction book ‘Windmill Hill’ - a ‘Best Summer Books’ pick in both the Guardian and the Observer.
*Please Note – Booking is required due to gallery capacity. Please email to RSVP info@wisegal.com.