Beth Barlow
« "The Norm" was born whilst walking back from the shop carrying my shopping. My weekly local shop and the walk home provide me with good food, social life, culture and exercise. I know this might not be normal. Normal modern life might denote a quick dash to a shop after a long day at work, then off to the gym and maybe a drive to somewhere remote. There were so many societal concepts to unpick just within that one set of differences but how to express that? Cartoon strips have not been my natural art form but it seemed like the most efficient way to tell this story and encourage thought on various norms. My art work often takes fairly contentious or difficult issues and veils them in less daunting forms. Through this people will approach and are embroiled in the discursive and conceptual elements of a piece before they realise its tricky subject. Then I find conversation of a deep nature often occurs with less blocks and insecurities...