Twenty 4 features painting and mixed media artworks by Antonia Leigh and Miiko Kumar. The exhibition explores time as a universal construct; the notion of past, present and future-of the 24 hour cycle that frames our lives. Twenty 4 also references the personal perspectives by both artists as each hour of the day represents the possibility of unique thought, hope, new emotions and memories in this ongoing continuum.

Antonia Leigh 24 Hours, 24 Buds  - Hope and Renewal

Each bud in this series represents a promise – of life, of resilience, of a future yet to unfold.

Colour is the heartbeat of my paintings.  Each different colour palette carries energy and meaning.  

The 24 small acrylic paintings of abstract buds explore the relationship between colour, hope  and the shifting landscape of our thoughts and emotions as we live out our days. Just as buds hold the quiet promise of blooming, our emotions cycle through phases of anticipation, intensity, hope and renewal.  

Colour becomes a reflection of these inner shifts and moods.  

I wanted to explore the quiet yet profound cycle of renewal that underlies all our days. The works invite viewers to reflect on their own moments of change, growth and the ever-present hope that each new hour brings.

The works are a reminder that growth is a process and that even in darkness we hold the promise to bloom.

Miiko Kumar

My work is about memory of place. The collected memories are fragmented and reinterpret time. The 24 works in this exhibition are about landscapes travelled. They show the colours and everyday fabrics that pattern our days, fabrics that bind are lives. Lace that lets sunlight in and can dance with light. Sweet fabrics designed for a child. Constant and trusted gingham.

The rhythm in life is shown by my repetition of shape. A stitch or line moving.  Life’s experience and struggle is symbolised in my art by mountains, roads and curves. The horizon can sometimes be seen in the distance. A gestural mark of simplicity. My work shows colour and light. I use layering of materials and marks to reflect the transitory state of beauty. Weaving materials into my art. Life is changing. Nothing remains the same.

The 24 works are remembered spaces that may be recognisable to you. The cycle of life brings comfort. Familiar patterns reassure that difficult times will pass. Beauty is in the ordinary and feeling at home. The layers of experience are condensed into a fleeting snapshot in time. The works are 24 fragments of memory. Joy and renewal.