Charlotte Edsell, Tethered to Gravity

Charlotte Edsell

Tethered to Gravity

Tethered to Gravity delves deeply into the process of image-making, where simplicity on the surface belies the complex journey that each painting undertakes. The process is not forced; instead, it unfolds through an organic investigation, where the artist paints and repaints, driven by a commitment to simplifying the visual language to evoke how memory functions in our mind's eye; an abstracted version of reality that resonates with oneself.

The interaction of ground and mark—both the act of painting and the interplay of form and space—is central to the practice. Colour and form are constantly explored, always inquisitive, as the artist searches for the delicate balance between beauty and aliveness. Whether through traditional methods or the expanded possibilities offered by digital manipulation of scale and imagery.

The paintings invite a poetic way of seeing and feeling, steering clear of intellectual analysis in favour of something more immediate, visceral. The images are constructed slowly, layer by layer, with hours spent in the studio questioning, looking, and relooking at what makes an image successful. This careful attention to the mark, to the aliveness of the paint as it’s laid down, imbues each work with a quiet energy—a sense that the image is alive and emerging, rather than predetermined.

The play of abstraction and memory is key, reducing a complex world into its simplest, most essential language. Historical references, like the use of specific colour palettes—such as blue and blue-green hues found in traditional Japanese prints—inform the artist’s work, while the marks and forms reflect a deeply personal language developed over time.

There is a constant dialogue with nature and the landscape, yet this is no simple portrayal of place. It’s a reflection of the layered experiences of being in nature—the beauty, the loss, the struggle, the desire to flee, and the preciousness of staying. The lines within the paintings serve as markers, guiding the way between tradition and the unknown,

between the floating and the stable. There is a sense of getting lost in the forest, only to find a guide leading you back out—an exploration of history, the present moment, and the fleeting, transient nature of both.

At its core, this work is about the act of seeing, the act of making, and the long, evolving journey of taking an image to its final form. It reflects a commitment to process, to exploring and honouring what comes through, while inviting the viewer to experience it as it is—an evolving conversation between the painting, the artist, and the world around them. The result is an offering: a moment of stillness, simplicity, and feeling within a complex world.