From the moment I wake until my mind drifts to sleep; my thoughts are ever held captive by beauty. Beauty within every aspect of our existence .... the raw, the "ugly," the minute - these moments encapsulate what it means to be human. An artist must be transparent, authentic, vulnerable; if the process does not involve risk or fear, then he or she has failed. In this respect, every work of art is
a self-portrait, not so that any single individual can bask in the glory of the ego, but so to grant permission for others. Art is a process of dying to the constraints our culture has engendered, the societal masks we bear and embracing the artist we all carry within our spirits. In this sense, every work of art is a revelation of the true self for the benefit of the viewer who chooses to engage with a given piece. The world needs this expression, particularly in the wake of our current pandemic, as the art of grieving has been largely lost within our drive for material success; a success that for many, has been utterly destroyed. The camera has enabled me to document my authentic experience as a woman, an artist, a child and a mother through a series of ‘performances’. Performance is an opportunity to delve into story; my body, a tool that I wield on impulse and the canvas upon which I write. These performances are then rendered complete by transforming the raw imagery into beautiful works of art upon the canvas. Multiple images may be layered within a single piece, as well as a massive assortment of media, from spices and organic matter, to India Ink, Octane and oil or chalk pastel. In this respect, several pieces of art may be captured, rendered before an individual piece is finished, whether on canvas or within a three dimensional sculpture. The play of light is also a constant source of fascination, from underwater captures through transparent cloth and anchors, to multiple wilderness treks in search of that moment when the sun filters through the trees in just the right way. These images are then selected, honed and stored in-studio, to be incorporated using digital means, pulling light from the back of a given montage. An artist knows when a given piece is done and the final work is rendered complete by engaging a viewer. Capturing and sharing my authentic grief, rage and palpable joy through the eye of the lens has enabled me to move beyond the darkness of my own history. It is my hope that viewing my work, my performances, will enable others to do the same. Thank you for your time and consideration. Jennifer Peters
www.jenniferpeters.ca
[email protected]
