Ancient Stones is a new exhibition by Jennifer Gowen opening this week at the Moran Gallery, Sylvania which examines her fascination with stone in all its forms, both natural and as the permanent record of past civilizations.
Jennifer Gowen has been absorbed by the history of ancient civilisations for many years. The exhibition of more than 30 oil paintings captures her fascination for stone in dramatic landforms, stone ruins and coastal rock ledges.
“This exhibition is the combination of two bodies of work with a common subject matter, stone. Stone in its natural state found in dramatic landforms throughout the world and stone manipulated throughout history by man, both inform my work.
“I choose to work in an abstract and semi abstract style to capture what I see and experience on my travels.”
Ms Gowen’s interest has focused on stone ruins left behind when civilisations conquer, destroy and rebuild their own cities on these abandoned sites, adding to the rich historic layers of past civilisations.
“The manipulation of stone by symbols and text carved onto their surfaces, the mysteries of stone circles, standing stones and prehistoric long barrows (burial chambers) found throughout Britain have long held fascination for me,’’ she said.
Her interest also encompasses natural landforms, coastal rock ledges patterned by rock pools and shaped by weather, tides and other elements.
“These are the things that continue to influence my art practice and provide me with a rich source of subject matter resulting in this body of work entitled Ancient Stones” she said.
Ancient Stones will be on exhibition in the Moran Gallery from Thursday, September 1 to
Sunday,m September 16 2016, 10am – 4pm daily.
Opening night is August 31 at 6pm.
Moran Gallery is located at 29 Sylvania Road, Sylvania.