Emma Jane Barnsley's show of paintings at the Back o’ the Shop Gallery Terrington is an example of art inspired by science which is worth seeing if you're passing by and has very strong resonances for me as I work with art and microscopes . In the York Press she says:
“Life grows out of darkness, destruction and disease; life always finds a way, a re-route, an escape,” says Emma, introducing her work at the Terrington gallery.
“I’m inspired by linear patterns and textures caused by processes and occurrences in the natural world. I draw reference from aerial photography of the earth’s landscape, such as intricate river networks, glaciers, root systems and eroded surfaces, and I’m also drawn to microscopic images of cell structures and membranes found in plants, neurology, and biology.”
Her new paintings are expressive interpretations of the patterns in nature that inspired her, choosing to abstract and distort them instead of recreating them.
“In effect I’m attempting to create visual hybrids derived from nature. I achieve this through pouring, drizzling and scraping the paint over the canvas and watching the variety of effects that occur. By doing this, I allow the paintings take on a life of their own.”
Emma’s exhibition runs from Tuesday to August 31; opening hours are Tuesday to Saturday, 10am to 4pm.'
Sally Lane-Morgan
