Alison Griffin’s intricate drawings from her recent body of work explore childhood memories and observe how they relate to current domestic surroundings on a directly personal level. By taking old photographs and memorabilia and combining them with ideas taken from real events and dreams from the past, Griffin produces well-observed and rather unsettling scenes that have a cinematic feel. Whether these film noir-esque drawings depict a dark and empty stairwell to some flats or a group of trees in a forest, dramatic lighting is used to create a narrative. In another piece a door sits ajar forming an element of suspense – is someone about to enter the room or have they just left? Or is Griffin herself prohibited to leave? The viewpoint is low, as seen by a child, the wallpaper suggestive of a family home.
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Whilst it would be easy to view these works as sinister, the series title suggests otherwise and immediately challenges our perception of the pieces. By naming each one ‘The Only Place Where You Feel Safe’, Griffin transports us back to our own childhood home, instigating emotions from the time, perhaps the daunting prospect of life beyond the house.
Griffin graduated from Central Saint Martins in 2012 with a BA (Hons) in Fine art, where her work was described by Jonathan Jones of The Guardian as ‘curious and memorable’ when he saw it at the final year show, and referred to her large-scale piece ‘Behind Every Window Lies Another Hidden Story’ as a "brilliantly authoritative" drawing. While still studying, Griffin had her work included in a number of group shows around London, including Chateau D’lf at Shoreditch Town Hall in 2009 and at the OXO in 2011. She was selected for the Clyde & Co. Art Award in 2012 as part of their Community Investment programme to support and mentor emerging artists. Griffin currently lives and works in London.