Artwork Statement

Like Icebergs Melting was started during the period of the COP26 Climate Summit in Glasgow, and was titled, whilst in-progress by Lister’s 3-year old son. Ideas of global change and of acting to respond to the climate emergency were discussed throughout households at this time, across media outlets and within Early Years local council nursery classes – where the issue of the ice caps melting clearly resonated with those of pre-school age. The painting was not initially created with climate change in mind, but upon seeing it in the studio, the description was applied to it, and the previous focus on proximity and careful contemplation of the materiality of paint was instantly reorientated. Like Icebergs Melting remains a consideration of these things, but it equally might be understood to foreground the idea that reflection on (and action to combat) the accelerating change in our world is more important than ever before.

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Gallery Introduction Text

‘Summer at the RA is not just a time of year, it’s the world’s most joyful art experience. Run without interruption since 1769, the Summer Exhibition showcases art in all forms, from prints, painting, film and photography, to architectural works and sculpture by invited artists, Royal Academicians and emerging talent.

After two years in winter, it’s back where it should be. The theme chosen by the exhibition’s coordinator, Alison Wilding RA, is ‘Climate’. Whether as a crisis or opportunity, or simply our everyday experience, it is an all-embracing subject.’

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From over 16,500 applications, Like Icebergs Melting was selected by acclaimed artist Rana Begum to feature within her curated section of the 2022 Summer Exhibition. Positioned adjacent to Begum’s site-specific expanded work, the piece, described as ‘stunning’ by Begum, reflects an ongoing personal engagement with ideas of fragmented change, of surface textures, proximity and distance. It exists as part of an ongoing suite of visual research into these themes – and utilising painting to draw attention onto them in various ways and in differing contexts.

• https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/summe...