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Claire Burke - St Giles Street Gallery until 27th October

This body of work adroitly demonstrates the art of retrieval. Rather than building up marks on the canvas, Claire Burke uses a range of processes to excavate the previously constructed surface. With purposeful laying down of acrylics and oils followed by exposure to a range of chemicals, then considered paring away with a palette knife, Burke unearths the most interesting marks.

The pieces although abstract are influenced by the space and light of Burkes Cornish homeland, possessing names such as Megy dowr (misty hill). The white internal space of this mixed media painting is disrupted with dark vertical breaches; these introduce a rhythmic quality, but also act as barriers preventing the viewer from becoming immersed in the pale surface expanse and intangible hazy shapes.

Burke believes her format of positioning each of the large pieces within its own painted framing device is both essential and totemic, allowing her to maintain holistic control over the appearance of the work whilst enabling chance effects to occur within.

In direct contrast to the white canvases, Burke has created some dark, broody pieces. The velvety black surface of Dowr, m dowrow is a powerful vehicle for the enigmatic misty presence within the composition that effuses a slightly menacing light.

As an investigative pre-cursor to inform the larger pieces, Burke uses photographic paper in Series 3 mixed media drawings. These preparatory works, whilst experimental are certainly not incidental in my opinion. And although mounted in suggested groups are interchangeable, almost like words in a sentence, they could be regrouped to create a totally different meaning.

Heidi Hadley