Graduate Exhibition

Jo Regan explores the ontology of abstraction, particularly its relationship with painting and its rich historical context. As a starting point, Jo eliminates representation and narrative, and investigates the remaining spatial characteristics. These understandings, along with an engagement with the materiality of paint, serve as a precursor to Jo's exploration of the possibilities of abstraction in a contemporary artistic context. Jo's work ‘Portal’ investigates the formalistic premise that ‘paint does not have to be painted’ and ‘paint does not need a substrate’. At a deeper level, Jo explores the resonance of paint and the sensorial experience of non-representation for herself as a practitioner, as well as for the observer. It is essential that the sensory experience, materiality and historical ties of her work neither be rationalised nor allocated hierarchy. This premise forges a developmental space where visual art can supervene, and an outcome such as ‘Portal’ can emerge.