The Autumn Auction 2020

Riding the Waves carries all the hallmarks of Ali Corder's distinctive style; a paired down folk aesthetic on stitched canvases and a hint at a subtle narrative ready to be unravelled by the viewer. 

"Riding the Waves was made during 2020 lockdown. The work I have been making is reflective of the time. Having moved from the busy tourist town of St Ives to a small village near Penzance two weeks before the first lockdown, instead of having the usual Easter mayhem it was all so very quiet. I spent so much time out walking and exploring the other side of Penwith, walking the woods and watching sunrises and sunsets.

Although avoiding the beaches throughout the day, getting down early for a dip was pretty special. My work is generally about connection, how we connect to one another and our surroundings, over this time it has become much more about connecting with nature and the beautiful world around us."

Folktales, morals, old wives’ tales, overheard stories and the proverbial wisdom of superstition are the predominant themes and interests that are common through Ali Corder's work. “There’s a real beauty in stories handed down from generation to generation, words of advice as we make the same mistakes, repeat the same heartbreaks and share the same love and joy.”

Working on canvas, pieces are stitched together in a patchwork, displaying figuration and pattern with fragments from written works. “I feel this combination of elements allows me to communicate my thoughts to gently tell a story which I believe can be relatable to us all.”

Accolades

Education: Fine Art BA, Spike Island, Bristol.

Exhibitions: Tremenheere Sculpture Gardens, Penzance, 2020. Equinoxy, A Leth group exhibition, Leth exhibition space, 2019. Sol Force, Group show, Tremenheere sculpture gardens, 2019. Group Show Curated by Jesse Leroy smith, Newlyn art gallery, the studio exhibition space, 2019. Yeah Penwith, Borlase Smart exhibition room, Porthmeor Studios, 2018.