Beverley Johnson
My work is about surfaces weathered by time. These may include the bark of a tree, a rock face, walls, fences and doors, even the surface of a gravestone or leaf.
Over time, surfaces gain layers. Moss grows on tree bark, lichen creeps over stone, doors are given a new lick of paint. People spray graffiti and stick posters and notices on walls. The layers build up, becoming richer and deeper. Then wind, rain and human hands work on the surfaces again. Paint fades and cracks, bark splits, posters fall, and notices are torn from walls. As the layers underneath are revealed, a surface becomes a fascinating blend of the past and present.
I take close-up photographs of these surfaces, seeking small compositions in the details - a mini landscape etched in the traces left by the passage of weather and time. Each surface suggests its own story.
Some photos work in their own right. Others invite further development as a painting. In this case, I use the photo as a starting point but then allow the painting to evolve freely.
My work is abstract but there is also a human connection. Time and our experiences leave their marks on us too. We age and weather and show the traces of all that has happened to us.
Exhibition
27 / 10 / 22 to 13 / 11 / 22