Alice Rolfe

Date of Birth: 8th June 1981

35 Kleine Wharf
14 Orsman Road
London, N1 5QL

www.alicerolfe.com
alice.rolfe@hotmail.com

Artist Statement:

Alice Rolfe’s work arises from her intense involvement with stories, objects and events from her past. She explores themes of memory, the construction of identities, absence, death and loss. Often using everyday objects and real documents such as photos and newspaper clippings, she arranges them in an order where the viewer is invited to construct a narrative, extracting new meaning from the artist’s possible real or fictional family history.

She employs methods such as intricate repetition and obsessive documentation to create work that demands the viewers’ time and emotional attention. In ‘Fear of Forgetting’ (2007), Rolfe documents memories of her deceased father offered by friends. She researched their comments, ordered them, displayed them filling 28 draws, then documented the items (books, letters, music, items describing his character) in a catalogue or guide listing every item and any relevant story attached to it.

In other works Rolfe had repeatedly drawn the same subject. ‘Cobwebs’ is an example, where 30 different webs were drawn onto carbon paper and displayed in a precise and reparative fashion suggesting these drawings could be just part of an almost infinite archive and offer the ultimate anonymity of death.

Difficult subjects such as death and memory being the driving thoughts behind her work, she is able to present uncomfortable and painful issues with calm composure creating thoughtful and reflective art works.

Relevant Education:

2004-07 First class (Hons) degree in Fine Art: Sculpture, Wimbledon college of Art, London.

2001 Foundation in Art and Design, University
of the West of England, Bristol, with
distinction.

Exhibitions:

Aug 08 ‘OR’. The Readymaids. Pear Gallery Hoxton, London.
Apr 08 ‘Kate’. 10x10. Solo Show. House Gallery,
Camberwell, London.
July 07 ‘Street Blitz’. Temporaty Arts Association, London
Fields, London.
May 07 Random Art at 15-25 New North Road, Old
Street, London.
Mar 07 Random Art and Kultra Jinak. Trafacka Arena,
Prague, Czech Republic.
Mar 07 ‘No Common Thing’. Dragon Bar Gallery, Old
St, London.
Mar 07 ‘Shoes Without Laces’. Curated by Serya
Rodregues. WCA, London.
May 06 ‘Something for the weekend’ The Readymaids.
Hotel Russell, London.
May 06 ‘Park’. Cannizaro Park, London
Feb 06 ‘Our Thoughts Compressed’.
temporarycontemporary, London.
Sept 05 ‘Phantasmagoria’. Nolia’s Gallery, London.
Apr 04 ‘Art Funk’. The Blag Club. Camelot Studios,
London.

University Exhibitions:

June 07 Wimbledon College of Art 2007 Degree show.
Jan 07 ‘Big Breath’. Wimbledon College of Art, London
Feb 06 ‘Wallpaper’. The Instillation Room, Wimbledon
College of Art, London
Mar 06 ‘Wood You?’ Wimbledon College of Art, London
Oct 05 ‘Foyer show’. Wimbledon College of Art, London
June 05 ‘Test Tube’. Wimbledon College of Art, London
Feb 05 ‘Remember your first time’. Wimbledon College
of Art, London
Jan 05 ‘Foyer show’. Wimbledon College of Art, London
Oct 04 ‘The Installation Room’. Wimbledon College of
Art, London

Relevant Work Experience:

Assisting Artist Jamie Shovlin - currently
For the past 5 months I have been Jamie Shovlin’s assistant. This involved making work and help in organisation of exhibitions.

Cannizaro Park 08 exhibition – Feb 08
I was one of 3 curators for the ‘Park 08’ exhibition. Responsibilities involved selecting proposals, giving tutorials, and curating the show.

Simon Millington and Associates - currently
I work with a team of designers making displays for Harrods, Selfridges, House of Fraser, and Stella McCartney amongst others. Responsibilities include project managing and making props for shop window displays.

Assisting Tania Kovats - Aug 07
I assisted artist Tania Kovats with preparation for her exhibition White Hourse Museum. My work including archiving documentation and working on some of her drawings.

Jerwood Drawing Prize - July 07
I worked as a handler for the Jerwood Drawing Prize.

2007 Degree Show - June 07
I was head of site management for Wimbledon College of Art degree show Private View. I organised the refreshments and invigilation for all Fine Art departments.

Simon Millington and Associates -06
I worked on the Christmas window displays for Selfridges and Burberry, and other shops such as New Look and Habitat