ABOUT
THE ARTIST AND THE WORK
Rachel Fuller works as a freelance artist and illustrator in Brighton. Since graduating
from Brighton University in 1996 she has produced artwork for a range of magazines and design agencies as well as illustrating
numerous children’s books.
The Tango Rose
Collection has been inspired by Rachel's passion for dancing.
''Most people are familiar with the iconic image of the tango dancer, rose clenched between her
teeth. For me, this sparked the association of nature with Argentine Tango, and so the unique concept of the TANGO ROSE collection
was born.
The rose symbolises passion, desire, the blood red colour of the heart. Argentine Tango, an improvised
dance, is led from the upper body, or as I choose to see it, the heart. The heart then engorged with a passionate joy felt
between two people enjoined in close embrace, not only between themselves, but between the music and the movement of their
bodies.
But why a rose between the teeth when dancing tango?
It would seem that the cliché
stems from Hollywood. In the 1924 film ‘Blood and Sand’, Valentino as a bullfighter dances with a flamenco dancer
who enters the scene with a rose clasped between her teeth. The Flamenco vibe continues in ‘Some Like It Hot’
(1959), though this time the main stars are seen dancing tango (of sorts), once again with a rose between their teeth.
I wanted to feel beyond the cliché and with my knowledge of tango, look at more sophisticated poses.
The beauty in nature echoes the beauty I have seen and experienced in some well performed dance moves. It seemed natural to
grow this series by introducing other flowers and plants and amalgamating the two themes of tango dance and foliage.
I began to see the shapes formed in shrubs echoing the shapes formed in certain poses. Sometimes the plants complimented
the tone of the image, both in colour and feel, other times the shrub provided a contrast, by balancing an off-axis move.
Some flowers evoked sensuality while others, vibrancy. Whichever mode they took, a striking juxtaposition was cast.
My aim is to produce decorative pieces which people would like
to see on their wall. For those who don’t dance, a suggestion that you should give it a try. For the tango dancer, madly
passionate and slightly obsessed with what we do, a reminder of a favourite move, a feeling evoked from an amazing dance,
or simply something to aspire to.''
VIEWING AND PURCHASING THE ART
The
Tango Rose Collection will be on-sale at England International Tango Festivalito (26-29 May 2017).
Rachel
will be on-site all weekend to discuss her work. It will also be possible to purchase framed or unframed limited edition prints
and greetings cards.