JULIA PEARSON

EMERGENCE - INTRODUCTION

My artistic practice is centered on exploring my own identity, with a particular emphasis on the intricate relationship between gender self-identification and expression. I utilize props, clothing, and self-portrait photography, to create works that reflect my journey of self-discovery and offer insights into the nuances of gender and sexuality.

To further examine these themes, I employ a range of techniques, including photography, silkscreen printmaking, and installation. This interdisciplinary approach allows me to merge multiple modes of inquiry, each of which contributes to the overall impact and meaning of the final piece. The repetition of images through the printmaking process reinforces the notion of active identity construction and allows for a more in-depth exploration of the performative and creative aspects of my practice.

I am heavily influenced by street graffiti art and its innovative use of colour. I believe that colours possess the ability to elicit strong emotions and convey complex feelings, making them indispensable to my artistic expression. I incorporate this belief into my work, guiding the placement of objects with consideration of colour and composition. This approach reflects my broader interest in exploring the intersection between art and emotion.

Ultimately, my goal is to create work that challenges and inspires, encouraging viewers to reflect deeply on the complexities of the human experience. By dispensing colour in a deliberate and meaningful way, I create installations that transcend traditional boundaries and invite the viewer to engage on a deeper level.

They sold me all the BLAH, screen print installation: spray paint, inkjet film, paint pen, found objects, 161 x 170 cm

Yeah, I’m LOATHSOME, screen print installation: spray paint, inkjet film, paint pen, found objects, 182 x 243 cm

Angela Wood

Painting is a form of dance – a careful choreography of brush strokes and colour mixing that comes together to capture the ideas of my mind on a canvas. My intention is for my paintings to serve as a form of escapism. In the moment of viewing my works, one will be entranced by the playful movement of elements within them. My works transform the act of viewing into a visual symphony, or a dance for the eyes.

My paintings consist of vibrant abstract forms that are lighthearted and playful in nature. The organic forms of my works appear to flow both within the confines of their individual frames and beyond. Over the development of this project, I have discovered that these works speak to one another through unintentional continuities in form and line. The final arrangement of the works speaks to these continuities, with each work flowing into the next. The act of arranging the works for display is intuitive and unplanned, a final step in the choreography prior to exhibition.

These works are intended to be viewed both as a collection, like a segmented mural of interconnected flowing lines, and individually, with each work being unique in the ideas that they evoke. Though abstract, the forms of my work are tangible. Their tangibility is enhanced through scale, which creates the sensation of a portal that the viewer can step inside to become immersed in the works completely.

Rhythm and Flow - Cascade, (detail), 2023, oil on canvas, 213 x 91 cm