Exhibition location: Fitzroy Library Exhibtion Space
17 December - 10 February 06
artwork shown: Symbols of Truth by Heather Belle Johnson
I felt that Heather Belle Johnson’s 14 abstract works with their soft pastel colours and gentle, rhythmically curving linear forms added an extra tranquility to the library. Digitally produced, the hard edged images flow across pale or dark backgrounds of smooth, merging colours; some backgrounds have the added textural effect of sweeping Chinese brush strokes. Of her works, she writes: “The creation of the expressive line relates tp the hard edge just as the performance of classical music correlates with jazz. There will always be craftmanship, which takes us right back to my beginnings in creative design, which is the central theme of all my work.”
The works seem gentle at first but on closer scrutiny, there is energy and vitality. In Tango Swirls, blue lines sweep upwards over brushstroke effects in mauve and pinks. Agitation also has sweeping brush strokes in black and blue-purple over a watery blue effect, with bright blue lines.
In Symbols of Truth and Blue Overture, the black and dark blue lines are against white backgrounds with blue water-colour wash effects. In her current works, Heather Belle is seeking to develop the SUMI line concept, embellished with a variety of unique background effects.
I enjoyed these seemingly gentle yet lively works. back