Arlette Ess

"I'm looking at our perpetual search for meaning.

'The nature of things' is elusive, since the universe and our existence consist of many more dimensions than we can rationally comprehend or even experience. To fill this knowledge gap we rely on image and myth, which seem to contain bits of 'truth' resonating with something deep within us. I believe we can access a shared collective identity through image and myth, and all our perceived cultural differences are merely a varnish further obscuring the bigger picture.
I'm mining images, mythologies, shapes of nature or scientific theories for connections and deeper layers of meaning. With drawing I'm trying to create a possibility for fragments of 'universal' concepts to surface, be it through figurative content or its abstract textures. By obsessing over structures and intricate details I think the veil may be thinning, yet all the while I'm conscious of only deepening the mystery.

There may be no truth and no untruth found anywhere, because our capacities just don't stretch as far as to see the big picture.
(This idea should make us feel fundamentally free and discard any conflicts based on ideology or faith, the idealist in me whispers)."


Originally I'm from Switzerl...

2004-2008 University of the Arts London:

2004-2005 Foundation Studies in Art and Design,
Camberwell College of Arts

2005-2008 BA (Hons) Graphics, Camberwell College of Arts

Baccalaureate from Lucerne, Switzerland

2015: Chemcraft, Espacio Gallery, London E2 7DG

2014 'Dare to dream', Kimono design, Tokyo design week

2014 'Ram Place', BARBICAN off site event in Hackney, London

2014 'SOUTH36.32N The New Fashion Latitude' Cadiz, Spain

2013 ‘Perfume, Sir?’ multisensorial exhibition as part of the London Design Festival, curated by Designmarketo

2013 ‘In Dreams’, concept popup as part of the eponymous exhibition at Cob Gallery/Guts for Garters, London

2013 ‘East to East’, group exhibiton of selected East London based artists and designers in Shanghai Xintiandi, China

2012 'Vera Chapter Two', 4 Cromwell Place, commissioned group exhibition as part of the London Design Festival,
also shown at the 23th Biennale Interieur, Kortrjik, Belgium (2012)

2012 '24Design', Group exhibition at Unit 24 Gallery, 20 Great Guildford St, London Southbank

2012 'Sex and Death', curated concept store by Guts For Garters in collaboration with Fox&Squirrel, 20 Earlham Street, Covent Garden (London)

2011 'Anatomy', group exhibition Cob Gallery London and Guts For Garters

2011 'Vera Chapter One', commissioned group exhibition as part of the London Design Festival
also shown at Fabrica Feature i...