Tarka Kings Renders Intimate Portraits of a Morning Routine in Graphite and Colored Pencil

"Along Britain's sea coasts, an iconic summertime scene unfolds in outdoor pools known as lidos, where the swimming area is often built right into the beach. Some are more developed with fresh water, chlorinated like indoor pools, while others may be less formal, with the tides pushing saltwater over low walls. The tradition is closely related to another beloved pastime, "wild swimming," where enthusiasts take a dip in lakes, rivers, and seashores."

"Mornings at the Lido, the artist's recent solo exhibition at Offer Waterman, highlights Kings' use of graphite and colored pencil to create quiet, pensive, and relatable compositions. From getting dressed in a changing room to sitting at a cafe along the Serpentine lake in London's Hyde Park, which features its own lido, King observes everyday yet transitional moments between interior and exterior, action and stillness, and community and solitude."

"Since 2008, Kings has worked almost exclusively with graphite and colored pencil. Her pieces pull from experience, with the addition of models and photographic references, as the artist swims almost daily and looks over the River Thames from her studio. "Kings' relationship with water, and its dynamic within the city of London, is an integral part of her work," the gallery says."

Outdoor lidos along Britain's coasts range from chlorinated freshwater pools to informal seawater enclosures where tides wash over low walls. Lido culture connects closely with wild swimming in lakes, rivers, and seashores, which is often social and associated with mental and physical wellbeing, and wild swimming clubs have become increasingly popular. Tarka Kings creates intimate drawings in graphite and colored pencil that capture routine, transitional moments around water. Mornings at the Lido, a solo exhibition at Offer Waterman, presents scenes of dressing rooms, cafes by the Serpentine, and everyday states between interior and exterior, action and stillness. Kings swims frequently and uses models and photographs in her practice.

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