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Command and Control: group exhibition with Ross Hansen, Roger Kelly, Adam Latham, Mariele Neudecker

Snell curated this group exhibition that included Ross Hansen, Roger Kelly, Adam Latham, Mariele Neudecker and Snell. The exhibition explored the complex and contradictory relationship between humanity and the natural world, the eulogizing and destruction, aestheticising and control. The participating artists all explore common themes of artifice, disguise and destruction, employing a variety of methods and media to challenge the way we view the natural world.

Snell exhibited three paintings: Infantry Bunker 137 x 188cm; Memorial, 158 x 178cm, Grune Holle, 165 x 173cm, all oil on canvas on panel, 2008. These paintings and drawings were based on militarized landscapes and were the result of several research trips exploring the contrast between military structures and their surroundings. The first trip was to the Hurtgen Forest in Germany, one of the best-preserved battlefields of WW2. The Hurtgen Forest has a dense and disorientating terrain, the aftermath of war clearly etched on the landscape, as bunkers, trenches and graves are all still clearly visible. The second trip was to Switzerland to examine some clever architectural camouflage, used to disguise military bunkers. Known as ʻfake chaletsʼ, the bunkers use a trompe lʼoeil technique to take on the appearance of their surroundings, disguised as houses in towns, farm buildings in more rural settings and even trees and rocks in the countryside. In this they play with the same kind of ‘camouflage’ illusion that Snell uses in the paintings.

The research trips culminated in a body of work; paintings, drawings and prints, examining concealment, disinformation and the physical and psychological impact was has had and continues to exert upon our environment. A catalogue was produced, including artistʼs statements, biography, and two images per artist. Hansen, Neudecker and Snell gave a talk at the Standpoint Gallery on Saturday 12th July. www.standpointlondon.co.uk/CommandControl.html