'I want to imbue inanimate, sometimes mundane objects with a life that can come out of intense observation. I look for the sensual and visceral of an object, sometimes the sensual is hiding in the plainest sight. I am transfixed by the materiality of paint and the act of painting is to me an act of finding belonging.'
Hamilton MAS were excited to show the works of Malherbe during their time from 2022 to 2023 as studio artist in the Upstairs Studio. Works over an 18 month period held in place by bulldog clips were finally on the walls of our downstairs project and gallery space for public view.
It was in 2020 that Malherbe began painting in oils - they paint figuratively. Their subjects very often come from what's directly in front of them, out of the window or in the mirror. A view, a face, objects; a sense of place, a sense of self and a sense of belonging.
Malherbe's background is in drama with a degree from the University of Pretoria, South Africa and a Master's in Digital Media from the London Metropolitan University. Working for the British Museum, they produce and edit digital content for its online channels. Under the name Sintheticboi Digital Video Production, they have made video projects for clients from concept to online delivery for the last decade.
Moving image, sound, and dialogue are all notably absent from Malherbe's own practice. Their paintings make room for movement of thought, involvement of the senses and conversations with their viewer.
Roux moved to Felixstowe from London during the pandemic and in May 2021 took up residence in the Upstairs Studio at Hamilton MAS.
'My first studio was a tiny little plasterboard box in a warehouse in Deptford. As much as I loved the edge and the cool of London, this space felt very different. I mean a window looking out on the North Sea is quite hard to beat. It also meant a lot that it was my space. A space where I could explore and develop my practice.'
A year and a half on, Roux has left the edge of the North Sea and returned to the cool of London, taking a transformed art practice with them.
Works from the Studio in Oil and Ink, celebrates the time and space Malherbe has given to their practice, the thinking, painting, making and experimenting.
