As Above, So Below. A journey of balance
Sydney Exhibition
Jo Kot
Opening Event . Wednesday 19 June, 6 – 8pm
Runs . 20 – 30 June, 2024
Mixed media artist Jo Kot’s work is intricately linked to the delicate balance between the seen and the unseen elements within herself and the surrounding landscape. Mirroring the natural aspects of peak and valley in this area, the artist’s inner balance tends dip and rise. Some days they are focused, other days are a struggle, where fear and anxiety rule.
This body of work encapsulates the artist’s journey in life and draws inspiration from locations in and around the Blue Mountains of NSW near where she resides. From the incredible geological formations that create the substrata and pinnacles, to the flora that protects its delicate sandy surface, and the reflections and mysteries that lie beneath the water’s surface. These works represent a journey through the environmental tapestry that envelops what Kot calls her ‘neuro spicy world’.
The lines, colour, mark-making and textures created in her work are based on memories of places that Kot has visited. There is a sense of authenticity in these unique aspects that echo the familiar sounds and patterns of places in and around Blue Mountains. Working from all sides of the canvas, she explores the idea of modular formations – first drawing structures, then building up layers of paint using glazing techniques. The artist then covers and dissects the work, reconstituting structures using lines that represent the abstract essence and feelings of landscapes that inspire her.
The work is deliberately dissected and presented in individual frames and sections. Each frame is like looking through a window that divides a landscape that would otherwise be continuous. Living in the Blue Mountains is like that, you can only see the horizon from certain places, and it is often framed by the flora. This dissected landscape reconnects through each frame. Like looking out the window of a car as it drives along the highway, it has been sliced up and stitched back together. This idea is reinforced by exposing the original matrix-like structure which is reminiscent of lace or a spider’s web.
