Follow Me
I wanted to share this interview I had in Languedoc Living đ
You can read it on the Languedoc Living website here
An interview with artist Jane Appleton
LanguedocLiving, Feb 23
Jane Appleton, is a local artist from the Languedoc. She currently has an exhibition at Inspiré Azille art gallery. We asked the curator of the gallery, Angela Saunders, to tell us a bit more about the exhibition, and she interviewed Jane for us. You can read the interview below.
AS: Jane Appleton we are delighted to welcome you to Inspiré Azille art gallery to exhibit for the first time with us here, I am very inspired by this collection of work, it has a very unique style.  Can you tell me a little bit more about this particular collection of your paintings?
JA: This collection represents a more concisive look at the âNew Beginningsâ collection. An on-going investigation into figurative movement both visually and socially. I draw inspiration from crowded settings, places full of people, animation and the colour of life. Some pieces were inspired by my rainy London photograph collection and others from art salons and vernissages . Anywhere people interact and move. We are never still, we rush, interact, progress, digress and are always curious to what lies ahead . This is our western society today.
AS: Your paintings capture movement and a moment in time so brilliantly, is there a particular season, time of day or situation that you prefer to capture and paint?
JA: Time of day has no importance, neither indoors or out. The activity changes, but animation can be observed everywhere. I do prefer urban situations for this body of work as there are more interactions to be easily captured. Wet streets after the rain, shoppers on the high street , commuters , people rushing on their way into an unsure future, a serendipitous future perhaps . Hope is ever-present. Optimism and positivism are by default colourful; these issues are what I look to represent.
AS: I love the fluidity that the lines of your paintings make, for me I see influences of Henry Moore in a couple of your paintings, especially in the painting entitled âlightâ. Are there any particular artists that inspire you?
JA: I find many artistâ work inspirational.
The strength and power in Francis Baconâs work is visceral and compelling, disturbing and dark. He wasnât afraid of colour and attacks the canvas with his incredible energy. He was brave and didnât care about being fashionable in his works. I love the fact he made his own vernacular. This is of influence to me.
AS: How did your move from Brighton to rural France many years ago change your work? and how does a quieter life out here affect your artwork?
JA: âThe quieter life out hereâ allows me more time to simply concentrate on my work, thus refining my direction, refining my ambition, refining my style. Living rurally helps put perspective on society as a whole. I can see with more clarity the area chess game of life and decide when I want to join in and with what. The boundaries of convention, âfitting inâ and being categorised are lifted. It is a great liberty to observe the sea of social movement with all its fashions and whims, and have the opportunity to dip oneâs toes in when one feels to do so; not when one is obliged to do so. To have lived both lives gives a greater prospective and is indeed a privilege.
AS: You have a unique, limited edition series of re-productions printed on aluminium and acrylic block in this exhibition, they have been very popular, is this something that you will continue to produce, and why?
JA: Artists always respond to feed-back, especially positive. I think this answers your question !
AS: I know that you are a well accomplished contemporary craft maker as well as fine artist, how important are your other avenues of creativeness to your paintings?
JA: Of course my paintings are of principal importance to me and I take them very seriously . The other adventures into 3-D objects have been on the whole more light hearted and narrative. The collection âTreasure Bowlsâ tell stories of the Vortex, birds nests, and rock pools . Yet still these pieces explore movement and colour. I created a âJelly Fishâ installation made completely from recycled materials which highlighted the problems we face with sea pollution . A decorative ethereal piece which danced jauntily in the breeze, but with a sadder underlying tale. It became a great hit with the selfie crowd so maybe its story will be passed on inadvertently. A collection of mixed media figurative characters is being worked on which will accompany an up-and-coming book project for 2019 . Each will tell their own individual tale. These projects allow me to converse on other issues and return to painting with fresh eyes. They are very useful and may be even essential right now for me.
AS: You use a bright palette of colour within your paintings, there are just 2 black and white paintings in this exhibition, do you prefer colour? Why did you choose black and white for “Called” and “She is waiting in the rain”?
JA: Yes I prefer colour. It expresses optimism and life! The two paintings in black and white reflect quieter moments. I was drawn to the girl featured in âShe is waiting in the rainâ, she had a shy gaze and I think the Encree de Chine suited this. The inks qualities best expressed the wet and damp atmosphere . It holds a simple message and colour was not needed.
AS: So what’s next for Jane Appleton ?
JA: More national and international painting competitions are on the cards. My husband (my muse and rock) and I had great fun last year in the biggest outdoor international contemporary art festival in France. I received selection by the jury and hope for similar this year as it goes itinerant throughout Europe! I am working hard on a companion collection to âNew Beginningsâ which I hope to launch later this year. And, as always, many many ideas and stories to tell through limited edition collections and diverse objects.
* * *
Jane Appleton’s exhibition is at InspirĂ© Azille until the14th April 2018, do pop along and take a look !
A bit about Inspiré Azille and its Directrice
InspirĂ© art gallery, meaning âto inspireâ, has been running for five years and delivers a programme of diverse exhibitions, changing every three months showcasing work by international, national and local artists working in all mediums.
During the summer the arts space also becomes host to live music evenings and theatre performances with a quaint little wine bar open just at the weekends from mid March.
The directrice Angela Saunders is a curator and arts educator who has lived in the Aude for the last nine years. She moved to Azille from Windsor in the UK where she worked at the world renowned Victoria & Albert Museum for seven years developing education programmes and working on many large scale world touring exhibitions including the Vivienne Westwood & Leonardo De Vinci blockbuster exhibitions.
Contact
Angela Saunders
Galerie Inspiré
11700 AZILLE
06 42 68 42 35
www.facebook.com/InspireAzille
inspireazille@gmail.com
