Colour Me Badd. Julia Dault at the PowerPlant.

Powerplant  Gallery Staff

I went  to the PowerPlant on Tuesday to look  at the exhibition, Colour Me Badd  by Julia Dault. I was prepared to dislike her work but despite my prejudice, I  admired  her paintings. She uses unconventional, frequently downmarket, materials to create abstract works that  simultaneously look   mechanical and hand made. For example, Starburst , where she uses a  comb rather than a brush .  A pattern of  pale blue vertical lines , about eight inches high and just over an inch wide high  wide descend rhythmically across the surface. Each one has a dark blue drop shadow creating a three-dimensional illusion that makes them appear to float. over  another layer of regular diagonal marks which sweep from edge to edge of the canvas. Chevrons emerge at four intervals on the sides.  A wavy line curves in and through these layered grids, gently contrasting with the strict linearity of the overall design. Blue predominates; cobalt, ultramarine, cerulean, shot with yellow-orange, violet, and fuchsia.

Power Plant Gallery Staff.
 Justin

The method looks impersonal  but homemade, as though a child laboured very carefully to  complete it  and there is a playful quality to her work, despite the self-imposed demands of geometry and pattern.
 In other works Dault employs  fabrics; Heat Wave consists of a top layer of black pleather meticulously cut out in a grid of  miniature diamonds, very smooth. Through these cut-outs, a delicately stained layer of linen glows with  peaches, lavender and pink and brown.  Dault has removed three triangles from the linen  to expose a third layer of bright yellow and red washes over photocopy grey and white. Mounted with several  other pieces on a mirrored wall, it's a tactile and mysterious work. In this and other works there seems to be a subtle, ironic reference to things traditionally 
female e.g., sewing, hair-combing.
 In Dangerous Liasons, 2013-2014, vinyl , folded mesh, and painted etched glass results in a shiny hard -edged work. 

Dangerous Liasons 2013-2014

Taking a photo in the mirror intallation.

 In addition to the mirror installation, a visual catalogue of  artist's marks  covers the long sidewall of the gallery,  systematizing her " established, strong and personal vocabulary"as Jason, one of the staff described it.
   
Enthusiastic, unpretentious,and helpful, the three Powerplant staff are  generous with  insight and expertise. It was very helpful to discuss  the exhibition with Jason who came into the gallery. We agreed that Julia Dault's  paintings are beautiful.

  Dault has also included three sculptures "made on sight to a predetermined palette".