The Kerlin Gallery is pleased to announce an exhibition of new work by Varda Caivano, Sebastian Hammwoehner, Silke Otto-Knapp, Alex Pollard and Hayley Tompkins from October 23 until November 20, 2004.

Varda Caivano's paintings are intimate in scale and subject matter. Each is precisely painted with sensitivity an delicacy and a playful, uncompromising touch. The results are complex works that invite contemplation and are rich with suggestion, associations and feeling. Born in 1971 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Caivano graduated in 2004 with an MA in painting from the Royal College of Art. Caivano has shown at amongst others The Approach Gallery, Victoria Miro Gallery and Bloomberg New Contemporaries 2001.

Sebastian Hammwoehner works for the most part with drawing and installation. His is an eclectic approach to image making allowing for a fascinating combination of styles and references. His work explores epic, romantic mythology and the sublime in a unique way that evades easy interpretation at every turn. Born in 1974 at Frechen, Germany, Hammwoehner graduated from the Academy of Fine Art of Karlsrhue in 2001. Recent shows include Galerie Meyer Riegger in Karlsrhue, Abteiberg Museum of Monchengladbach, Frankfurter Kunstverein, Hamburger Banhof, Berlin, Stadtische Galerie of Wolfsburg, and ZKM of Karlsrhue.

Silke Otto-Knapp's paintings present exotic, dreamlike worlds that appear to exist on the edge of becoming or dissolving. Through a highly individual use of watercolour on canvas Otto-Knapp creates undeniably beautiful images that defy definition, seeming instead to shift in and out of focus with spaces that float in a strange and intriguing atmosphere. Born in 1970 in Osnabrueck, Germany Otto-Knapp graduated with an MA from the Chelsea College of Art and Design, London in 1996. Recent shows include solo exhibitions at greengrassi, London, Galerie Daniel Buchholz, Cologne and Kunstverein fuer die Rheinlande und Westfalen, Duesseldorf.

Alex Pollard has created a series of low relief constructions made with various different types of hard board and MDF. There in a lightness of touch in how these works are made and in the wonderful sense of humour and imagination that Pollard brings to bear on his subject matter. Born in Brighton, England in 1977 Alex Pollard graduated from the Glasgow School of Art in 1999. Recent shows include, John Moores painting prize 2004, Liverpool; Statements, Basel Art Fair; Cubitt Gallery, London; Andrew Mummery Gallery, London and Transmission Gallery, Glasgow with J.P. Munro and Tony Swain.

Hayley Tompkin's paintings whisper for attention. Usually small in scale they offer a deceptively simple and economic articulation of space that is suggested more than rendered. Each image is enigmatic, with shape and colour delivered as subtle evocations. Born in 1971, Hayley Tompkins graduated with an MFA from the Glasgow School of Art in 1998. Recent shows include Minimalism and After III, Daimler Chrysler, Berlin; Andrew Kreps, New York (solo); Galerie Giti Nourbaksch, Berlin (solo); The Modern Institute, Glasgow (solo); Becks Futures 2004, ICA, London; Works on paper, Spruth Magers Projeckte, Munich and Invisible Beauty, Galerie Giti Nourbakhsch, Berlin.

For further information please contact Darragh Hogan.