Jennifer Binnie – 2007

9th – 28th October 2007

New Paintings

Private views took place on:
Tuesday October 9th 6.30 – 8.30pm
Thursday October 11th 6.30 – 8.30pm
Thursday October 25th 6.30 – 8.30pm
Sunday October 28th 12.00 – 3.00pm

Due to public demand an extra private view was added on Thursday October 25th, 6.30 – 8.30pm.

Viewing by appointment at other times.

For further information contact Jonathan Ross: Phone 07747 807576
or jross@gallery286.com

Many of the paintings in the exhibition are related loosely or literally to the Grimms Fairy Tales, which I believe to be timelessly important and relevant in their magical exploration of eternal themes such as life and death, sexuality and rites of passage. I have repeatedly met, in my work with troubled children and young people, characters from the stories, such as the ‘bad’ girl from ‘The Woodcutters Child’ and the youth emotionally locked inside his own body as in ‘The iron Stove’. The Grimms Tales are far from fantasy in my mind, describing emotional experiences felt as strongly now as ever. My aim in the paintings has not been to illustrate the stories but to convey emotion through image, colour and gesture.

The other important element of these tales is one that continues to fascinate and excite me. That is, the backdrop in which they are set, the natural world of Northern Europe with its landscapes of forests, mountains and lakes and the constantly changing seasons and light along with the indigenous plants and animals that inhabit it.

‘The Painted Diary’ consists of 113 entries in gouache on black paper which were made between August 2004 and September 2005. The paintings illustrate my personal preoccupation on the day of making the entry. I looked inside myself to explore my deepest emotional and spiritual thoughts when making the diary. Recurring themes are concerned with life and death, art making and energy, cycles of nature and the changing seasons.

More information about Jennifer Binnie on her own website www.jevfinearts.co.uk

Jennifer Binnie’s work as one of the Neo Naturists recently featured in a retrospective exhibition at England & Co.