Three definitions of the Sublime: works by Helena Hadala, Louise Pagè and Susan Fraser-Hughes, an exhibition [March 22 - May 4, 2007] held at Triangle Gallery of Visual Arts, Calgary, Alberta.
Sublime?
a child
a leaf
a moment
a gift
of the
eternal.
Who knows?
Who
Does not?
Gyo-zo Spickett
A walk through the forest, gazing at an autumnal leaf or tuning into the sounds and smells around me, fills me with the sublime. Being in the moment allows for a 'seeing into' rather than knowing the true nature of the mind. Painting is a form of meditation that holds this same sense of awareness and allows me to transcend my subjective self. In this state of sublime-ness I explore the transitions between the material and mystical worlds and try to evoke a poetic visual image, a type of inner-scape reflecting rather than describing my perceptual world.
The revolving doors in Three Definitions of the Sublime are inspired by traditional Tibetan prayer wheels which usually take the form of rotating cylinders and are filled with scriptures or text. A participant turns the wheel while reciting a mantra or wish. The doors in this exhibition entitled "January", "October", "July" and "March" thematically represent the four seasons and in a physical sense relate to the idea of the sublime. The Latin origin of the word, Sub (up to) lime (the lintel) conjures the imagery of a threshold or portal that one enters -- an entryway that joins the material world to the numinous realm. Fragments of text written for each day of the year are integrated as visual and textural elements. Winter Reflections, constructed with three layers of translucent mylar, incorporate my writings in response to each day in celebration of winter. The combination of ambient and transitory light allows for the interplay between text and image. |
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Winter Reflection #1, #2 and #3
installation at Triangle Gallery of Visual Arts [2007] |
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Winter Reflection #1 - 2006/2007
frosted mylar (3 layers), charcaol, crayon, watercolour, sumi ink, 34 in × 74 in |
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Winter Reflection #2 - 2006/2007
frosted mylar (3 layers), oil pastel, china marker, watercolour, sumi ink, 34 in × 74 in |
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Winter Reflection #3 - 2006/2007
frosted mylar (3 layers), oil pastel, china marker, watercolour, sumi ink, 34 in × 74 in |
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March, July, October and January
installation at Triangle Gallery of Visual Arts [2007] |
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March, July, October and January (verso)
installation at Triangle Gallery of Visual Arts [2007] |
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January, side two - 2006/2007
pivoting masonite door, acrylic, water-based oils, oil pastel, frosted mylar, glass, scenic gel, paper in wooden framework, 93 in × 42 in |
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March, side one - 2006/2007
pivoting masonite door, acrylic, water-based oils, oil pastel, frosted mylar, glass in wooden framework, 93 in × 42 in |
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July, side one - 2006/2007
pivoting masonite door, acrylic, water-based oils, oil pastel, scenic gel, glass in wooden framework, 93 in × 42 in |
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October, side two - 2006/2007
pivoting masonite door, acrylic, water-based oils, oil pastel, glass in wooden framework, 93 in × 42 in |