‘Heads or Tails’: a joint exhibition by painters Archie Nash and Cosima Ross.

Exhibition: 26-31st March 2024.

The past week in Brighton has been an eclectic mix of exhibition openings and Private Views. None perhaps as current or relevant to me as Archie and Cosima’s ‘Heads or Tails’ exhibition at Phoenix Project Space, which ran from the 26th to the 31st March 2024.

For full transparency, I have been gently persuaded to write a review of their exhibition (in lieu of payment, I am hoping to be handed some pork scratchings). Have no fear, this will not affect the nature of this review. I am not easily convinced when it comes to altering my opinions on art… it is an extremely serious matter after all.

Almost three years ago, I began the Fine Art Painting course at the University of Brighton. The isolating effects of Lockdown were still being felt so, our course of 30 was more often than not a group of about 6 people who were able to come into studios. I remember I was an unsure, apprehensive student who was finding it hard to believe that a life pursuing the arts was realistic. In contrast, I remember being drawn to both Cosima and Archie, for their natural state of being was rooted in a certainty that they were Painters. An admirable quality of both artists: talent is something that they both have in bucketfuls.

The Private View (26th March) had a lovely turnout and it was great to see that the artistic community of Brighton had showed so much interest in these two young painters.

Walking into the white-walled space felt like being immersed into a life-size concertina style sketchbook. Each wall represented an unfolded page, a piece in its own right. My curiosity was piqued and I felt like I was flipping through a box of nostalgic odds and ends that you keep ‘just in case’. In fact, sentimentality came across as the main connection between the two artists’ works. Nash’s quirky renditions of postcard slogans and Ross’ fantastically disproportionate representations of snakes and people played into the idea of memory. This let us ponder what secret, personal attachments the artists may have to their repeated motifs.

What stood out as the exhibition’s major strength was its careful curation. Meticulous planning was evident with each visual decision. A close glance at each of the works highlighted the extent of this; not one smudge or shoddily poly-filled hole on the wall to be seen. This was a credit to the painters, as the curation was in keeping with the gentle and reserved statement. Each space of blank wall between pieces punctuated the overall visual effect and added emphasis. It allowed the urgency we sometimes place on ourselves to ‘get an exhibition over and done with’ to subside and breaks for the eye were a thoughtful addition.

Works on paper outweighed their canvas counterparts in this show. Despite being on a fairly traditional Painting course, it is exciting to see such successful paper artworks included in an exhibition that will be adding to the convention of painting.

Here are the artist’s details below, have a look!

• Archie Nash

Instagram: @archiemnash

• Cosima Ross

Instagram: @cosimaross

Website: www.cosimaross.com