ENIA Gallery presents on Friday 11 October 2024 the solo exhibition of Jackie Berridge entitled “Flights of Fancy“.
Jackie Berridge’s paintings are a mixture of inspirations from childhood memories, dreams and traditional stories. She creates landscapes of the imagination inhabited by anthropomorphic and other beings, and narratives of joy and sorrow mixed with tones of darkness.
Her latest work offers refuge from recent events such as those in Ukraine and Gaza. It’s like waking up from a recurring nightmare, where the challenge is how to change the end of history. Through drawing and painting she explores ways of avoiding the horror, creating spaces that provide refuge and exploring the possibilities of transformation.
Berridge uses a variety of sources and references including textiles, pop culture, Indian miniatures and 1970s cartoons. At the same time she records her observations in design and develops ideas in sketchbooks.
Landscapes of the imagination layered with fancy flowers and strange trees form the backdrop for tiny stories. The inspiration for these visual elements comes from Berridge’s visits to parks such as the Giardini di Boboli in Florence or the Nottingham Arboretum. Also, Indian miniatures with their beautiful colours and intricate designs play a role after her trip to the Baroda in Gujarat in 2019.
The protagonists are a hodgepodge of hybrids, ornaments, toys and her own inventions. Some are ‘precious’ keepsakes, others are family figures; some were donated to find a role in the paintings. Some objects may have personal significance while others allude to traditional stories. Deer, for example, often appear as protectors or perhaps symbolise the cycle of life.
Although the author has her own opinion about the narratives, she lets the viewers give their own interpretation.
Exhibition Opening: Friday 11 October 2024 at 20:30 to 23:30
Exhibition Duration: 11 October 2024 through 22 February 2025
Opening Hours: Thursday– Friday 12:00-19:30
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