Discover “Slow Looking”: A celebration of art and time at Morley Gallery 

Morley Gallery is thrilled to present the final exhibition of the Artists of Morley campaign. Slow Looking, is an exhibition that invites you to immerse yourself in the creations of the Fine Art Mentoring Group,  curated by the talented artist and Course Director Erika Winstone. 

A year of artistic growth and community 

This year-long journey of artistic development has brought together a diverse group of artists. The exhibition is a celebration of their growth, creativity and collaboration. 

Curator Erika Winstone said  “The work in this show demonstrates the rich achievements of each artist, as well as the benefits of alternative models of learning and access to a peer group with a wide range of histories and experience. I congratulate each artist on this diverse and exciting exhibition.” 

The exhibition also pays tribute to the contributions of visiting artists Daniel Howard-Birt, Mark Dean, Matt Hale and Barbara Nicholls, whose guidance has helped shape the works on display.  

The artists featured in Slow Looking:  

Gina Beaton, Siobhan Howatson, Anna Hwang Colligan, Anna King, Emily Kisby, Hugo Knox, Tamsin Loxley, Steve Mathews, Fionn O’Beirne, Marco Piccari and Giulia Zaniol. 

Student profile: Meet Hugo Knox: The artist exploring AI’s social impact 

One of the standout talents in the Slow Looking exhibition is Hugo Knox, a Morley student whose work tackles the pressing concerns of our time—specifically, the societal and political implications of Artificial Intelligence (AI).  

Through his art, Hugo challenges us to think critically about the unchecked power, speed, and accuracy of AI, and the complex questions it raises about our future. 

How do you integrate the concepts of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into your artwork? 

AI as a subject matter has various themes. To name a few: the spread of misinformation; increases in technological advancements; the battle with individualism; lack of human connection and the constant battle of navigating through different algorithms. These themes are featured throughout my work in the medium of painting and sculpture. 

Can you elaborate on the social and political themes you explore in relation to AI? 

The Social and political references are often reflected through materials and symbols within the paintings, from the mundane to the more serious. In recent works related to Camberwell, the subjects are real people with real stories. I enjoy this part of my creative research, meeting and getting to know the subject matter. Their thoughts and ideas are often incorporated in the works. I want my paintings to reflect the time that we’re living in, highlighting objects/things which represent the times we’re living in right now. 

What has your experience of Morley been and what has this year involved? 

I’ve been fortunate enough to have enrolled on two visual art courses this year at Morley. The advance painting course and fine art mentoring course. Both courses have been amazing for both development of technique as well as building on initial ideas and practice. Not only do you learn from your teachers but also from your peer group. The space created has always been a kind and supportive one, a great environment for those searching for their voice. 

What draws you to use digital drawing as an initial step in your creative process? 

I find digital drawing a flexible, fast paced tool which allows me to work productively as well as explore numerous ideas and possibilities at a fraction of the time compared with more traditional practices. 

Could you describe the transition from digital drawing to oil painting in your workflow? 

Once the composition is understood and adapted digitally, I adjust the digital drawing to the desired canvas size then use the digital drawing as a reference to copy the outlines of the sketch onto canvas. However, the sketch isn’t definite and is often changed into a more favoured composition, especially when colour is added. This helps keep things fresh and exciting as it’s not recreating the digital drawing as a painting. 

Keep an eye on Hugo’s latest works by following him on Instagram.

Don’t Miss Out 

The exhibition will run from 4 September – 7 September starting with a private viewing on Tuesday 3 September from 5:30pm. On Saturday 7 September, the gallery will be hosting an ‘Artists Talks’ to fully experience the depth and diversity of this extraordinary exhibition – this is open to the public and is free!  

For more details on opening times and visiting Morley Gallery, visit www.morleygallery.com