Katie Harman

Imitation of nature or Mimisis is recurrent in my work, in order to hope to demonstrate how classicism is not always necessarily associated with the traditional, but has been the foundation for society for millennia. People are often more attracted to things that are similar to themselves. Religion in art plays on this- where humanistic actions and emotions are magnified onto divine celestial beings. Religion through history has been such an important influence on the way people lead their lives. The boundless example from the ancient Greeks, although thousands of years ago, can teach and will continue to relate to us. Greek theatre especially was a method predominantly used to establish democracy to enforce standards of living and laws. The audience are supposed to reflect upon what they have just witnessed and learn to become a better civilian. In hoping to achieve a sense of catharsis when viewing my work, both theatre and literature within antiquity play a crucial role. My ‘abstract narratives’ are played out as an assemblage of distilled images of Neoclassical paintings that are reduced back to their purest form complemented by block colour and emotionally driven marks to create abstract narratives. Imitating Greco-Roman wall art and graffiti, large scale canvases layered with coloured wall paint reveal detailed realism denoting a common visual language developed over our shared history. In conjunction with painting, my sculptures are of a classical style, yet opposed to the serene idealist faces found in 5th century statues, my figures refuse to hide the emotions they take on. I have been learning Italian in order to pursue my dream of learning the techniques of the Old Masters in Florence. Not only do I want to develop skills I have learnt in my degree, but expand my artistic practice by exploring various options including set design, prop design, art conservation and restoration, art curation and graphic design. I hope to carry this out through various internships, work placements and shadowing artists.