BLOOM: Invisible Cities
By Jo Phillips
Italo Calvino’s 1972 surreal novel “Invisible cities” inspires Jeanne Masoero’s new exhibition. In his novel Calvino documents fantasy cities and what makes them unique, evoking fictitious views, sounds, smells and events that could construct the vision of any city, bringing the readers into a dreamlike landscape making us question: What makes a city?
Like in Calvino’s novel, Masoero conceived imaginary names of cities, evoking the sense of discovery when exploring a real new place. Calvino explores the idea of city in the chapter Esmeralda, a fantasy city: “Cities, like dreams, are made of desires and fears, even if the thread of their discourse is secret, their rules absurd, their perspectives deceitful, and everything conceals something else.”
Masoero’s colourful, harrowing and mysterious artwork explores the idea of “sense of place”, both physical and emotional, how we perceive a place and how it affects us. The artist went through an intimate journey of creative self-discovery visiting the Mayan ruins of Yucatan in Mexico, Guatemala and Belize. Discovering in the process new paths within and outside herself, inviting viewers to join her on her journey towards discovery of the self.
The exhibition divides the artist’s work in three different parts. The “paper reliefs” are constructions of torn white paper on canvas, that are glued creating a surface that might resemble a painting. The works play with light in a very unique way, aiming to evoke a landscape of light and reflection inspired by the artist’s visits to the Mayan sites in Central America.
The artist’s exploration of the use of colour is visible in her “paintings” and “coloured drawings” .The artworks are the result of her interest in “structure” and “landscape”, where the points of colour that appear to float across each piece seem to indicate the location of a lost place within Earth and imagination.
For a video of Masoero at work in her studio: https://vimeo.com/89177284
For Masoero’s full biography: http://jeannemasoero.com/
The exhibition “Invisible Cities: A Mayan Journey”, will be open from the 18th of June until the 1st of July 2015. The private view will be held on the 17th of June.
This exhibition can only be visited by appointment and is located at Sandra Higgins Fine Art, 46 Harcourt Terrace, Flat 3, Chelsea, London, SW10 9JR.
For enquires, high resolution images and further information contact: sandra@sandrahiggings.com or 07721741107
