As the works in this exhibition Homeland reveal, over the last decade the practice of London-based artist Thelma Rosner has moved quite literally to new territory. While the play of pattern, derived from processes referencing everything from textiles to book illuminations, informed much of her past work, Rosner now focuses her practice on aspects of geographic place, culture, and notions of "home."
More specifically, Rosner's recent series, Border, Dictionary, and her newest installation Homeland, make reference to Israeli and Palestinian communities connected by customs and histories despite being divided by continuing conflict. Her works celebrate the shared customs of hospitality and food.
Equalizing processes, such as the duplication of imagery and negative/positive renderings of an object, point to shared human experience. As in her past work, Rosner employs a keen sense of order, used to great effect in her large Cross-Stitch paintings, which comment on war as an experience literally woven into the fabric of daily life.
The exhibition, curated by Cassandra Getty, will be accompanied by publication co-produced with the McMaster Museum of Art.