Page 52 - Jessica K Ballantyne Studio Zine 2020

Abstracts

Tpsychological issues. The colours and ab- I Tshow the body both as a fragile entity that Ybut I don’t like inhibiting the inspiration
he ‘Shattered Nudes’ as I like to call them
ou may think it’s a bit strange for a figura-
abstracted the figure in this way, for the first
he body and mind do not always behave
tive artist to explore the abstract realm,
are a reflection of the body in conflict. They
as we would like, causing illness, pain and
time during an art residency in Hungary in
2016. The theme of the residency (and the
stractions in the following paintings and drawings two corresponding exhibitions in Budapest) was needs to be taken care of, as well as a powerful to explore something different. Quite a few artists
vortex of energy capable of incredible healing.
have switched from figurative to abstract and vice
speak about this as well as the ability to heal. Our ‘Cyber Paradise’. I wondered what it would be like versa: artists like Philip Guston and Picasso, for
bodies have a tremendous amount of untapped if the figure was lost in a kind of pixilated world, hese paintings are also visual representa- example. Although I have not taken it to the level
energy. During the time these paintings were in a different dimension of time and space. So I tion of the body as a metaphysical force, of those masters, I do understand the impulse to
produced, my body was in a lot of physical pain explored this through painting, and it was a rather Tcapable of housing a spirit that is beyond
due to undiagnosed endometriosis. Painting these interesting and elating experience. I really loved the physical. I used a layering technique to create deconstruct the figure and to put it together again.
nudes was really helpful in releasing some of the the results! Those paintings stayed in Hungary, a kind of three dimensional space, where the body
negative thoughts and energy I had around the but on my return to the UK I explored the con- appears and disappears.
physical pain and my inability to work for periods cept further and made a few more paintings in
of time. When I paint, I forget about everything: that vein.
pain, my life, my body even. When I created these,
I was in a meditative state. In a sense, they helped
me to heal!

Nude Contemplating the Dissolution of Her Own Body Dissolved Nude

Oil on Canvas Oil on canvas
Size: 50 x 50 cm Size: 50 x 50 cm
Depth: 4 cm Depth: 4 cm
#19 #20

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