Lecture
Lucy Stein: Dreaming the Dark
Thursday, 11. Januar 2018, 7 pm, Aula

The British painter Lucy Stein describes her lecture as follows: “Dreaming the dark: magic, sex and politics is a book by Starhawk from 1982. I have stolen her title for my talk on (my) painting, (my) feminisms, esoteric culture and personal integrity. I will talk about how I try to engage with the process and history of figurative (digestive) painting with wit and good humour. I’ll talk about the way my painting project has ridden in on various different vehicles. As a young woman I made cathartic works that related grubby expressionist painting to depression, anxiety and hysteria whereas in my late 30s I’ve been possessed by esoteric culture in Cornwall where I live, and wider ideas around “celticity”. (If this sounds like a redemption then it is so in order to exploit the inherent cliche). I will talk about enchantment - or activating atmosphere by inhabiting persona- as a form of resistance against the boredoms of a mediocre meritocracy. I will muse on how to negotiate with the aristocratic traits of cynicism and the acerbic voice whilst trying to maintain a cosmic magnanimity and sweet nature in my life/works. Making the work is necessary but what to do with them after that? How can paintings act as an analgesic and a psychological trigger at the same time?”

Lucy Stein (1979, UK) lives and works in St Just, Cornwall. Stein studied painting at Glasgow School of Art and de Ateliers, Amsterdam. Recent exhibitions and events include Moonblood/Bloodmoon at Galerie Gregor Staiger, Zurich; the wise wound at Tate St Ives/Porthmeor studios; Big Farmer at Piper Keys, London; Retention at Gimpel Fils, London (alongside Shana Moulton); and Regression at Kingsgate workshops (with Simon Bayliss). In 2016 she co-curated the all women exhibition NEO-PAGAN BITCH-WITCH! at Evelyn Yard, London and in 2017 she co-organised Fuck You Where’s My Suger, a celebration of depression and hysteria at Cafe Oto, London. She currently holds a teaching position at Falmouth University in Cornwall.