Gallery Visit: Marjolaine Ryley

Visit to NGCA - Marjolaine Ryley:

This exhibition was called This Is What I See, which shows what artist Marjolaine Ryley has collected over 20 years. Throughout the exhibition, you will see examples of text, photography and found objects. She wanted to show how we show an image of ourselves, and share our histories. This exhibition was in a really open space, so you were able to see all of it from the moment you walked in it. Not only was everything really thought out, it made a huge space feel really warm because there was something on every wall. The photographs were really bright and interesting to look at because they were all different but showed a story. The items in the glass boxes were really contrasting to the things on the walls because they were actual items, that had to be presented properly. The suitcase with the items was really interesting because it would have been what someone took with them on their adventure.

I found with this exhibition I was more intrigued by the photos. I think they were so beautiful and crisp that I wasn't really focusing on the items. This is just me personally, because I think the images explained more of what she wanted her exhibition to show. The idea of collecting history I think photos are a really successful way of doing this, so I was more interested in those. I really liked the lighting in this exhibition. In BALTIC's exhibitions that I have also wrote about I felt like it was really bright, where as this the moody lighting focuses on the images on the way. That's just how I felt about it, and also the fact the walls aren't white I thought was really nice too because it felt like the images popped more from the wall. I think the NGCA is a really nice place to exhibit because it has a raw, industrial vibe to it which is something I will always be drawn to. I think in relation to my project, it is the development of myself over time, so there could be some sort of correlation to this. It could make me consider using photos of myself and Alex for my project more.

Overall, I think this exhibition is really interesting. I like when something has been collected over time because it feels like it is well thought out. Again, I think this is a really good space to present work, I thought it was well presented and full. I think because I wasn't really looking at the objects in the case I didn't fully get the experience of the exhibition, but that is my fault.