Co. Dublin, Ireland
‘Field Work‘
An exhibition of Paintings and Drawings from Meadows and Grasslands
by YANNY PETTERS
The Riverside Gallery, Bridgewater Centre, Arklow, Co. Wicklow
30 October to 2 November and 6 November to 9 November 2008
This exhibition organised and curated by Olivier Cornet (Olliart) will feature paintings and drawings from meadows and grasslands. As an artist Yanny Petters is fascinated by botanical portraiture and the relationship between science and art. In recent times the depiction of plants has been recognised for its aesthetic value as well as its importance to science. Recent exhibitions have shown the public interest in learning about plants and the environment while appreciating the skill in the execution of botanical paintings.
Yanny has been studying plants through drawing and painting over the last twelve years working on themes from trees and their fruits, peatland plants, to currently meadows, this most important habitat which is under threat through modern farming practices.
In this exhibition, the culmination of more than two years’ work Yanny presents drawings and paintings of Irish grassland plants as they appear in the field. All the works are executed from life and mostly represent plants life-size.
These oil paintings and paintings on glass (Verre Églomisé) explore the intimate details of meadows, fen land and heath. In multi layered colour Yanny’s works capture a sense of the environment amongst the manifold plants and flowers that make up grassland habitats, proving that fields are not just grass!
Verre Églomisé is a little known technique in which paint and gold leaf are applied to the back of clear glass. The art has its origins in Central Europe in the Middle Ages. Yanny learned about it through working as a signwriter in the 1980s and has since been developing her own unique version of the technique.
Within Yanny’s vibrant and enchanting paintings the viewer hears the wind blow in the grasses, senses the moisture amongst the reeds and rushes and can dream of the sound of insects buzzing in summer meadows.
This work presents not only unique and fine works of art, but the works contain an educational aspect too. ‘Field Work’ will awaken a sense of wonder in the viewer and draw attention to an aspect of our environment which is easily overlooked and taken for granted.
These detailed works bring us closer to a secret wonderland that usually only insects are privy to.
A catalogue (with a preface by Irish Times journalist Cathy Dillon) will be available one week prior to the exhibition.
Click here to view some of the work and find out more about the artist.
Images can be downloaded for online-publishing or printing in art listings. You can also contact the exhibition’s curator and agent Olivier Cornet at ocornet@olliart.com (0872887261)
Olivier Cornet