Poetry Buried in Geometry
My last solo exhibition in Sydney was back in 2018, and so I am very much looking forward to showing there again – this time with Michael Reid Northern Beaches. I began creating this body of work last year at a residency at the Chateau Orquevaux in rural France. I took the partially completed paintings home to my studio in country Victoria to add the colour and finish them. I have always loved to travel and create work in new environments because of the way my subconscious absorbs and then produces new elements within my practice as a result.
Within these pieces I can see the visual influence of French architecture and decoration, and the repertoire of devices I use to construct and support the narrative within my work has been expanded. The show title and concept; ‘Poetry Buried in Geometry’ – emerged as a means to explain an overarching idea that our ways of being can be divided into two parts. Our poetry and our geometry. If the geometry is the fixed point in our lives: the structure, the unchangeable immovable part, then the poetry is the emotion, the feelings, the soft and the flowing. The juxtaposition of these elements feels like a warm and poetic approach to an ever more complex world.
I have been painting now for more that 20 years and have become increasingly interested in using my practice as a way to draw attention to and explore the philosophical and metaphysical aspects of lives. I am curious about the worlds that exists within us and outside of us. The things that we don’t quite have all the answers for. The universe and the celestial systems, dreams, religious ideas, consciousness, serendipity, fate, luck, science and love. All subjects that have captivated me throughout my life and can be looked at via the ‘Poetry Buried in Geometry’ lens. All the things that continue to challenge what we know – the fixed point or the ‘geometry’.
The paintings always start with a pencil drawing on stretched raw linen. I then fill the space around this with white gesso and add the colour last. This preserves my original mark and the energy of the idea. It is a very meditative process that requires time and concentration.
All my life I have been drawn to colour and within my practice I am always wanting to push this as far as I can. To not stay within my comfort zone. This sees me continually mixing paint to get the particular shade I want and is one of the reasons it is easier to bring work back to my home studio for this part of the process.
The reality is that every painting in this exhibition will resonate differently with each individual. This is the beauty of art I know. As an artist I aim for every piece to be aesthetically pleasing before going out into the world, to then be layered with new meaning and significance assigned via it’s collector.
Poetry Buried in Geometry opens on May the 4th from 2 – 4 pm at the Micheal ReidNorthern Beaches gallery at 2/358 Barrenjoey Road Newport NSW 2106. For all enquiries or to register for the Catalogue please visit this link or email; northernbeaches@michaelreid.com.au You can see more of my work on instagram at @jasmine_mansbridge or FB Jasmine Mansbridge Art
I will be in Sydney for my opening and then will be boarding a plane once again to head back to France to install a DREAM GAZEBO at the Chateau des Deux Amants (the castle of two lovers). My practice continues to expand on so many levels and I am excited for all that lies ahead.
Big thanks to WE MET IN JUNE for the studio captures.
As always please feel free to email me directly with any questions!
Jasmine … X
