In her latest exhibition “Shadow Passes – Light Remains” Nicky Foreman continues to explore the subjects of her previous paintings, combining, mundane objects, landscapes, fabrics and foliage along with images and symbols drawn from art and culture.
The combination provides a dialogue between the contemporary and the past, between notions about New Zealand and about its European heritage.
The links to European art that she depicts in her paintings come from her frequent visits to Europe, notably France and Italy The multi layered works have a sense of elaborate investigations into the nature of life, drawing together elements of scientific and botanical observation along with medieval and Renaissance imagery. This is all tied together with a mixture of Christian iconography, alchemical enquiry and cabalistic philosophies.
There is also a small five-panelled screen “Ardent” ($9800) which like the early church screen brings together various images to create a concept . The images include the Latin phrase “Fortis in Arduis” (strength in adversity) along with an image of Mt Taranaki and three white feathers symbolising the peaceful teachings of the prophets Te Whiti of Parihaka.
One work which stands out in being very different from the other is “Foundation Maeght” ($9300), an almost traditional depiction of a group pines at the famous gallery outside Saint-Paul de Vence. The trees and their almost cartoon-like shadows are set against the artist metallic background which gives the work a sense being a pared back symbol, a distilled and refined version of her other works.
Link to the full article -
https://nzartsreview.org/2021/08/16/nicky-foremans-elaborate-investigations-into-the-nature-of-life/
