Anima-Mundi (Formerly Millennium) | Ambrosine Allen 'After the Ascent'

Ambrosine Allen’s complex and elaborate collages are created with tiny paper cuttings taken from discarded encyclopaedias – raw material imbued with evidence of mankind’s scientific, mythological and historical enlightenment. These fragments are then painstakingly assembled into majestic invented and imagined landscapes. Terrains evolve, layer by layer as more and more cuttings are added. A development of tectonic geology occurs and new geographies take shape. Underneath each finished work sits multiple alternate renderings – the channels and tributaries of flowing water, discarded conurbations, swirling skies, and the rise and fall of the evolving topographies.

The undertaking is extraordinarily lengthy with each piece taking several months to complete. The final image existing only as a result of the turmoil and transformat ion of it’s construction.

The resultant landscapes are both familiar yet alien. Human traces are scattered and buried, nature seizes and conquers. ‘After the Ascent’ offers us a potential evolution shaped by the magnificent capabilities of the natural world in riposte to the egotism of human endeavour.

Are these vistas to be viewed as foreboding visions or do we witness a panorama of reawakening and renewal? These works go straight to the heart of a prescient anxiety concerning our harmony with this world that we inhabit.

Joseph Clarke | 2015



AMBRSOSINE ALLEN 'AFTER THE ASCENT' - 10/7 TO 11/8/15 Ambrosine Allen’s complex and elaborate collages are created with tiny paper cuttings taken from discarded encyclopaedias – raw material imbued with evidence of mankind’s scientific, mythological and historical enlightenment. These fragments are then painstakingly assembled into majestic invented and imagined landscapes. Terrains evolve, layer by layer as more and more cuttings are added. A development of tectonic geology occurs and new geographies take shape. Underneath each finished work sits multiple alternate renderings – the channels and tributaries of flowing water, discarded conurbations, swirling skies, and the rise and fall of the evolving topographies. The undertaking is extraordinarily lengthy with each piece taking several months to complete. The final image existing only as a result of the turmoil and transformat ion of it’s construction. The resultant landscapes are both familiar yet alien. Human traces are scattered and buried, nature seizes and conquers. ‘After the Ascent’ offers us a potential evolution shaped by the magnificent capabilities of the natural world in riposte to the egotism of human endeavour. Are these vistas to be viewed as foreboding visions or do we witness a panorama of reawakening and renewal? These works go straight to the heart of a prescient anxiety concerning our harmony with this world that we inhabit. Joseph Clarke \| 2015	Mountain Study at an Elevated View paper collage with archival UVA filter matt varnish . 23.5 x 62 cm Retreating Glacier paper collage with archival UVA filter matt varnish . 57 x 67 cm Mountain Study with Passing Storm paper collage with archival UVA filter matt varnish . 54.5 x 95 cm After Bagetti : The Towering Wall of a Mighty Cavern paper collage with archival UVA filter matt varnish . 65 x 96 cm Facing the Torrent paper collage with archival UVA filter matt varnish . 20 x 8.5 cm Downward with the Entire Mass of Water paper collage with archival UVA filter matt varnish . 27.5 x 27.5 cm Moon: After Drilling, On the Tundra, Over Water paper collage with archival UVA filter matt varnish . 5.5 x 5.5 cm each A Study of Volaire: From the Shore Looking East paper collage with archival UVA filter matt varnish . 46 x 34 cm An Account of Fire, Up Close and Far Away paper collage with archival UVA filter matt varnish . 20 x 12 cm each Observation of the Mountain at Dusk collaged paper globe with archival UVA filter matt varnish \| 43 x 23 x 18 cm Upon Reaching the Open Air collaged paper globe with archival UVA filter matt varnish . 22 x 22 x 10 cm The Secrets of Wastewater paper collage with archival UVA filter matt varnish, paper, plaster and wood . 33 x 43 x 16 cm