New Artist: Joanna Owst

2017 Falmouth graduate Joanna Owst:
“I create work about states of consciousness within a landscape; the paintings aim to reflect a unique state of being that touches upon psychological and phenomenological concepts. My inspiration derives from Merleau-Ponty’s ideas about ‘being-in-the-world’ and how one can respond to a place. Colour, composition and process are three of the most important visual concerns that I deal with throughout the creation of my work. Referring to photographs of specific places that I have visited, I build up layers of paint in a semi-representational way as underpainting, the surface is then obscured or veiled with an intrusion of poured paint; this layered formation acts as a mass that forces the viewers mind to dissect the landscape. When Iapproach the canvas, I consider the memories, emotions and distracting thoughts that seep their way into my perception of place. These thoughts can be explosive, implosive or destructive, marbled with positive elements in the chaos.”