Gut Feelings I&II 2024/25

Gut Feelings I 2024/25 190.5cm x 333cm

Gut Feelings II (work in progress) 183cm x 505cm

These two paintings, which are standalone works, were made with the intention of creating an immersive feeling in Walker’s studio. This came with a view to then exhibiting a number of paintings to produce an immersive installation, which includes sound.

Walker wanted the paintings to be as large as possible. She used unstretched canvas stapled onto her studio wall. Though this was done for practical reasons, she thinks it brings specific qualities to the work: the frayed edges of the canvas become matted with the paint, and the puckering of the cloth when the paint is added creates little folds and shadows that change the nature of the colour and the paint. Walker has continued to use sand mixed with paint as this further diffuses and distorts the colour and appearance of the paint. All this helps to create the dreamy, immersive effect she is looking for in the work.

This continues with her work exploring the feelings around the human gut. These are common to all humanity, whether we are unaware of our gut or constantly aware due to health issues. Walker particularly wanted these works to express positive feelings about human guts, honouring and celebrating them, by exploring the wonderful way they contribute our physical and mental health. The paintings also continue with her theme of imaging the environment of our guts to be inhabited by a wonderful civilisation of trillions of microbiome.