Imogen Perkin
"I make paintings that depict landscapes of an expansive, man-made world. I'm not sure which I find more exciting - the abstract constructions around us, or the figures that inhabit them. It's the relationship between the person and the structure that makes the image come alive. I am interested in the massive structures of architecture and machinery around us, and the way man relates to them.
Amongst these domineering structures, human figures negotiate their everyday lives. They are part of the scene rather than the focus of it. Sometimes they are purposefully vulnerable. Mostly, they are purposefully insignificant. My protagonists can be down-at-heel, but I hope their presence transcends into something more significant. The people in the images are waiting to move on. I hope they can share that moment of contemplation with the viewer.
My paintings reference a painting tradition of depicting people living and working in the town and its suburbs. The ambivalence of this relationship between the city and her inhabitants seems as relevant as ever. The still image, be it through painting or photography can capture this instant, giving weight to a moment and sense of place.
I keep returning to certain scenes in my work - fountains, building sites, places of work, allotments and travel hubs. For me, these are place of transition, alluding to the life-long journey and the destination that is always just out of sight."
Man Carrying Shopping
Oil on Canvas 30 x 30cm, 2025
I liked this ordinary street scene at Edmonton Green with it's juxtaposition of repeating shapes and angles. I hope they emphasise the weighed down figure and put him centre-stage.
The Pavilion
Oil on Canvas 80 x 95cm, 2025
I make paintings that depict landscapes of an expansive, man-made world. I'm not sure which I find more exciting - the abstract constructions around us, or the figures that inhabit them. It's the relationship between the person and the structure that makes the image come alive. I am interested in the massive structures of architecture and machinery around us, and the way man relates to them, negotiating their everyday lives amongst these dominating structures. They are part of the scene rather than the focus of it. Sometimes they are purposefully vulnerable. Mostly, they are purposefully insignificant. My protagonists can be down-at-heel, but I hope their presence transcends into something more significant. My paintings reference a painting tradition of depicting people living and working in the town and its surroundings. The ambivalence of this relationship between the city and her inhabitants seems as relevant as ever. The still image, be it through painting or photography can capture this instant, giving weight to a moment and sense of place. This image, "The Pavilion", is a painting of our local shopping centre. Two figures are passing through, one on their way to the exit and outside. Another is minding a stall. They inhabit a space that might otherwise be described as liminal. I found the shimmering reflections of the highly polished surfaces give an ethereal and unworldly air to what is, in reality, a very ordinary shopping mall. Dreams are invested in the things we shop for, and I hope this picture reflects this.