NEXUS MODERN ART

Jessica Charlotte    b.1984

SOLO EXHIBITION
NEAREST & DEAREST 2010

Jessica Charlotte’s latest exhibition explores the meaning of family and poses a fundamental question - should the definition of ‘family’ be confined to the constraints of species or should it extend to include those living creatures that form part of the strong emotional bond the binds our experience of ‘family.’ The pets that have padded through the corridors of our family history perhaps lay rightful claim for inclusion. Jessica Charlotte certainly thinks so and has extended the branches of her family tree to lovingly embrace the lives of all the creatures that have enriched and contributed much to her family. She has recorded her memories in the portraits of this exhibition with considerable compassion, gratitude and feeling. They speak to us and capture the enduring experiences of love, joy and loss that are shared within the journey of a family.

PAST EXHIBITONS

Sub.con.scious; hidden region of the mind where apparitions of strange creatures form and dissolve in dreams and leave only their haunting footprints on the waking mind.

Jessica Charlotte follows the footprints through a doorway into the
subconscious and brings back images of the exotic, strange and beautiful.
Are they only dreams? Or are they the hidden creatures that inhabit the empty spaces in all of us where we want things to be.

Pablo Picasso stated ‘Everything that you can image is real’

Influenced by children’s books and surrealism Jessica has chosen art as a means to explore and capture strange characters that populate the world of her imagination.

Fantastic creatures appear before our eyes, their expression and execution are so beautifully articulated they take us by surprise. Child hood stories and fairy tales instantly come to mind but Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs have never ventured into this neck of the woods.

In general people embrace a world that is flawed with perfection and because of this society is not transparent; characters and images must fit into a glossy turquoise box, wrapped in a neat white ribbon for us to desire them or to be comfortable with them. This also applies to people; often those who wear their true colours on the outside are considered odd, and those who conceal their true selves are viewed as normal.

Openly Illustrators are generally restricted to the guidelines of the turquoise box, Jessica Charlotte is not one of them. When speaking to an art writer about Jessica’s paintings, I asked her to make a statement to sum up her work and she replied, ‘Toto, we are not in Kansas anymore’

We view the characters depicted here as dark, strange and delightful, going about their business in a world that we can only dream of. The more the viewer ponders the more we find beauty and humour that lies within each painting.

Currently working as a freelance Illustrator in Melbourne, Jessica enjoys the opportunity to create a variety of work in both 2D and 3D forms.
Jessica completed her studies in Illustration at NMIT and has exhibited in several solo and group shows.

Solo Exhibitions

2010,’Nearest & Dearest’ Nexus Modern Art

2008, ‘Inhabitants of the Subconscious’ Nexus Modern Art


Group Exhibitions

2010, ‘Mood Swings’ 19 Contemporary Artspace

2007, ‘Three’ Fad Gallery for the Melbourne Fringe Festival

2006, ‘Summer Samples’ Intrude Gallery

2006, ‘Curiouser & Curiouser’ Intrude Gallery for the Melbourne Fringe Festival

2006, ‘Inspiring Talisman Project

2005, ‘Illustre 2005’ Chapel Off Chapel


Education

2004-2005, Diploma of Arts (Illustration)

Awards

2005, Deans Art Illustration Award

Featured in-

Creative Magazine (June/July 2006 Issue)