CHAOS TERRAIN

Ralph Hunter-Menzies, winner of the inaugural Rich mix for Ashurst Emerging Artist Prize

Rich Mix Cultural Foundation, 8-30 June 2017

The Ashurst Emerging Artist Prize and Rich Mix Cultural Foundation were thrilled to announce that Ralph Hunter-Menzies is the winner of the inaugural Rich Mix Prize. Ralph’s resulting show, entitled “Chaos Terrain”, ran at Rich Mix 8 – 30th June 2017.

The Rich Mix Prize is a new strand this year, awarded to an artist who either grew up or studied in East London, who works in East London currently, or whose work demonstrates a particular response to East London. It was launched by Ashurst to support the great work Rich Mix do in the local East London area.

In astrogeology, ‘chaos terrain’ refers to a planetary surface area, where ridges, cracks and plains appear tangled and enmeshed. With this aesthetic in mind, combined with an enduring fascination with structural decay, ageing and interventions in cityscapes, Ralph’s works involve marks made by erasure using a number of different processes. While removing paint from the surface he is simultaneously mark-making.

“My works are complete when I feel creation and destruction of surface exist symbiotically. The fascination I have in the readymade aesthetic found on most streets corners, is the utilitarian way in which they’ve come into existence, made through an approach seemingingly unconcerned with aesthetic. Therefore they appear more spontaneous and opportunistic.”Ralph Hunter-Menzies

For the inaugural year, TBurnsArts Founder Tani Burns was selected as judge of the Rich Mix Prize and curator of the exhibition, working closely with Ralph throughout the process - from mentorship in the creation of a completely new series to the full curation of the exhibition and associated events.