Hayley Megan French

Statement

Different paths I have taken that remind me where I am presents 13 new abstract paintings of walking paths near my home in Old Guildford, Sydney. These are paths I walk or drive often and through this repetition they have become embedded with memories and associations that remind me where and who I am. Roads, intersections and footpaths are overpainted, highlighting the path I have walked like a suburban desire line.

The process of walking to understand where I am has been an important part of my process for the past few years, in particular for my ongoing project: The Pipeline documenting three suburbs through overpainted Polaroids. These canvases record this walking process and the remembering that takes place at home in my studio. With the need to stay close to home in 2020, these works have been an attempt to orient myself by physically and imaginatively circling home.

Biography

I work primarily in painting, moving between abstraction and representation, and often using photography, drawing and writing to document stories of home. I collect memories and fragments of the places I move through and call home as a form of keeping track. I live and work on Darug Land and through my practice think about how to honour and acknowledge this in my understandings of place.

Alongside my painting practice, I also write, occasionally curate and work as Programs Officer for Parramatta Artists’ Studios Rydalmere. I work intermittently as a fieldwork researcher in Cultural Economics at Macquarie University. My writing has been published in Art Collector Magazine, Eyeline Contemporary Visual Arts Journal and Semaphore. I have exhibited regularly in artist-run, regional and commercial galleries around Australia since 2011.

'Line Drawing IV ', 2017, acrylic on board, 30.5 x 38.5 cm

'Line Drawing IV ', 2017, acrylic on board, 30.5 x 38.5 cm

A$945.00

'Line Drawing III', 2017, acrylic on board, 30.5 x 38.5 cm

'Line Drawing III', 2017, acrylic on board, 30.5 x 38.5 cm

A$945.00

'Line Drawing II', 2017, acrylic on board, 30.5 x 38.5cm

'Line Drawing II', 2017, acrylic on board, 30.5 x 38.5cm

A$945.00

Pipeline orientation notes, 2020, acrylic on canvas, 102 x 102cm

Pipeline orientation notes, 2020, acrylic on canvas, 102 x 102cm

A$3,500.00

Half a lap of Springfield Park, 2020, acrylic on canvas, 102 x 102cm

A$3,500.00

Remembering walking paths near my home, 2020, acrylic on canvas, 102 x 102cm

Remembering walking paths near my home, 2020, acrylic on canvas, 102 x 102cm

A$3,500.00

Circling home, 2020, acrylic on canvas, 51 x 41 cm

Circling home, 2020, acrylic on canvas, 51 x 41 cm

A$1,600.00

What I remember, 2020, acrylic on canvas, 51 x 41cm

What I remember, 2020, acrylic on canvas, 51 x 41cm

A$1,600.00

Springfield St & left, 2020, acrylic on canvas, 51 x 41 cm

Springfield St & left, 2020, acrylic on canvas, 51 x 41 cm

A$1,600.00

Three lines, three horizons, 2020, acrylic on canvas, 51 x 41 cm

Three lines, three horizons, 2020, acrylic on canvas, 51 x 41 cm

A$1,600.00

Three lines, three horizons (2), 2020, acrylic on canvas, 51 x 41 cm

Three lines, three horizons (2), 2020, acrylic on canvas, 51 x 41 cm

A$1,600.00

Three lines, three horizons (4), 2020, acrylic on canvas, 51 x 41 cm

Three lines, three horizons (4), 2020, acrylic on canvas, 51 x 41 cm

A$1,600.00

Three lines, three horizons (5), 2020, acrylic on canvas, 51 x 41 cm

Three lines, three horizons (5), 2020, acrylic on canvas, 51 x 41 cm

A$1,600.00

Three lines three horizons (3), 2020, acrylic on canvas, 51 x 41 cm

A$1,600.00

Boundary painting, 2020, acrylic on canvas, 51 x 41 cm

Boundary painting, 2020, acrylic on canvas, 51 x 41 cm

A$1,600.00

Boundary painting (2), 2020, acrylic on canvas, 51 x 41 cm

Boundary painting (2), 2020, acrylic on canvas, 51 x 41 cm

A$1,600.00