Nomas* Projects / Art, Dundee

Playing With Soft Hands

Artist's Statement

Playing With Soft Hands is an exhibition of new sculptures and paintings by Valerie Norris. They are a continuation of Norris' ongoing practice and consider ideas around femininity, feminism, care and fragility.

The sculptural works in particular were made specifically for the Nomas* Projects window spaces, however in both these and in the paintings the artist is also thinking through cultural and societal notions of display, desire, value, love and identity.

The works evolve from an accumulation of found objects, imagery and text which are gathered by the artist from a wide variety of sources including popular culture, charity shops, the natural world, literature, poetry and everyday detritus. From this, a complex web of chance relationships, themes and associations builds organically to form a personal visual language. Improvisation and intuitive decision-making are used to experiment with and explore the spaces between the physical world, language and imagination.

Valerie Norris was born in Paisley and lives and works in Dundee. She completed both a BA (Hons) in Fine Art Printmaking and a Master of Fine Art at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design. Previous exhibitions and projects include You hardboiled I softboiled, Rhubaba, Edinburgh; Bust Out, Lillie Art Gallery, Milngavie (part of Glasgow International 2016); L’Heure Bleue, Meadow Mill, Dundee; Marble dusting / Fixed satin, Meadow Mill, Dundee; Bluette, limited edition publication commissioned by Dundee Contemporary Arts; Trusted Time, HALLE 14, Leipzig, Germany; Studio Jamming Group Critical Writing Residency and 12-Hour Jamming Symposium, Cooper Gallery, Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design, Dundee; Axisweb Writing Scotland programme 2012, in partnership with CCA, Glasgow and this is tomorrow; Closer to the lips, word perfect, Glasgow Project Room; I take into my arms more than I can bear to hold, Generator Projects, Dundee; Works on Paper and Other Works: Alex Frost, Valerie Norris, David Shrigley, Sue Tompkins, Glasgow Project Room.

Artist Website: www.valerienorris.tumblr.com