Acrylic and Oil Pastel on canvas
76cm (W) x 92cm (H)
I have always been a curious child, drawn equally to the intricacies of nature and the nuances of humanity. The theme Seasonal Shifts resonated with me in an anthropological sense, one that inevitably intertwines with the environmental. At the time of making this work, I was navigating a new shift in my personal life. This connected me deeply with my peers and their own transformations. I wanted to invite family, friends, and viewers into this shared experience: to accept the inevitability of seasonal change and to find calm within transition.
The painting itself moved through many iterations before reaching this quieter resolution. It began with the image of a young woman cartwheeling through life, the voice of her twelve-year-old self. Behind her, a dense rainforest, but the composition felt too active to convey the deep breath within change. My direction shifted when I came across an old postcard depicting a man casually crossing the street, barely a centimetre tall. Though anonymous, his tranquil pace captivated me. He became a universal figure, one in whom we can all recognise ourselves. The child behind him remains ambiguous, perhaps his own younger self, perhaps a memory of loss, or perhaps the embodiment of hope.
Gradually, I pared back the forest, leaving only the warmth of a fading sunset, a trace of what once was. In this way, the work mirrors the seasons of nature, the cycles of human life, and the transformations of urban environment. Each shift leaves its residue, yet also opens space for stillness and renewal.
Walking - Jenna Winship
I explore the interplay of culture, environment, and nostalgia in my practice. Influenced by a multicultural background and an unconventional upbringing, I work with oils, acrylics, and pigments.
Growing up on a boat and immersed in diverse cultures, I learned to navigate the complexities of identity. I have long been a curious bystander of human interaction, seeking both immersion and perspective. In Seasonal Shifts, my response reflects on the cyclical nature of human existence, drawing parallels between the mutable patterns of the natural world and the stages of life. From the wonder of childhood and the defiance of adolescence to the vitality of early adulthood, the transformation from a transient drifter to the axis of a household, the inevitability of loss, and the reflective quietude of later years, each phase emerges as a season within the broader fractal of life.
The landscapes I paint echo the environments I have experienced, revealing the deep interconnection between humans and their surroundings. My works invite viewers into a space of introspection, where personal and collective memories intertwine. Nostalgia acts as a catalyst, illuminating cultural intricacies and the perennial yearning for belonging.
By entwining culture, nature, memory, and emotion, my art fosters connection.