Richard Attenborough Centre, Leicester
March – May

Karen is an artist who combines traditional ceramic sculpture with new technology. Much of her work revolves around the analysis and subversion of stereotypes that exist around the body, and on hidden and social restrictions that are imposed upon form and intellect. She is also fascinated by the interaction between the male and female psyche.

She suffers from scholiosis, a hidden disability which results in chronic back pain, which gives poignancy to her explorations of translating the unseen to the seen. She also works to find ways of using new technology to enable people with disabilities to overcome the restraints that are placed upon them by their bodies.

website: www.karenwelsh.co.uk

e-mail: info@karenwelsh.co.uk

The residency is enabling her to make a series of forms, some based upon pig’s ovaries, others on babies or parts of the human form, such as feet. In the final exhibition – 31 May – July 2003 – the display of some of the forms will be combined with video projections to provoke thought around the body, science and beauty, and the impact of social and intellectual constraints.

Karen Welsh exhibition