Shining Light
February 2017
Oil on canvas

This series of paintings draws upon Mayhew Craddock’s interest in the personalised nature of decision-making, of pathways in art and life, and the way that one’s environment can dictate direction, consciously or otherwise.

Mayhew Craddock has developed an interest in the earth’s layers and the earth’s relationship with its greater environment, over the past few years – intrigued by the moon, sea, land, magnetic forces and tides tides, Shining Light looks specifically at the romanticism of stargazing, and the way in which people (from around the globe) have navigated using the night sky, and looked to the stars for direction in love and life throughout history. The idea of greater forces being at work dictating behaviour on the ‘surface’, and pathways that most are totally oblivious to both fascinates and frightens the artist who views elemental forces as having the capacity to offer great personal perspective.

Frequently drawing upon Lacanian theory, Mayhew Craddock is interested in the layered nature of understanding, this is represented in this series of work through the depth of colour of the oil paints she has selected (working with two of the slowest drying pigments available) and contrasting flecks of constellations that allow viewers to consider their position in time and space.

In short, the work is a visual allegory for the necessity of, and the difficulty in, gaining a 360 degree understanding of any subject in order to fully comprehend a situation, and make informed decisions as a consequence… posing the question as to whether or not we ought to merely follow our gut instinct, and be guided by ‘that star’ that shines brighter than all the rest yet changes according to the environment it is seen in.

This series of works places emphasis on the mystery, beauty, and romanticism of one’s relationship with the galaxy, and those relationships we harness within in, whilst also inviting the viewer to acknowledge the enormity and influencing factors of what lies beneath and above ‘the surface’.

The work takes its title from the song Shining Light by Ash – a song that resonates from the artists’ youth.