Cathy's Art Diary

Beautiful exhibition at the Gillian Jason Gallery looking at how contemporary art is reflecting the roles women have played in protecting the earth. The show took the ancient idea of the nymph, a female figure often linked to a specific place, but challenges the expectations we may have of these figures from the Old Masters. Nine artists were featured over the two-room space. I liked Caroline Absher’s bright, bold picture called “Territory” of a woman in contemporary in a tree reminding us of climate activists. I loved the startling orange background. As well as Precious Opara placed nude black figures face down on beds surrounded by house plants which have an oppressive quality Megan Baker offered a series called “The Felling of Dryad” showing naked figures morphing into their environment, a theme which was also take up in Jasmine Pradissitto’s wall sculptures of realistic faces and leaves. My favourite was Eleanor Johnson with her large Rococo like canvases based on the myth...