MAGGIE STRACHAN

 artist statement

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“… What does painting seek to express, and what is painting? Is its significance in the act of painting itself, or in its expression ? ... “ 1

The content of my paintings and drawings is inspired by my environment – rocks, mountains, graveyards, bridges, etc. As the paintings develop the significance of some of the symbolism suggests itself.

For me, this is similar to a dreaming process. Something in my environment sets off a chain reaction of unconscious associations, and in exploring these their meaning becomes more or less clear in relation to who I am and how I respond to the world.

Although many of my images are of solid structures, I also enjoy the ambiguities suggested by forms dissolving in mist; and, also, of solid forms merging with reflections. I also like to explore the interaction between stone structures created by hand and those formed by natural forces.

I like working with oil paint because I can manipulate it indefinitely - move it around, make changes, rework it until it looks right to me. To some extent the same applies to charcoal and chalk pastel.

I choose to work with a limited range of mainly transparent oil colours, for their richness and for their potential for layered depths.

Since words, for me, do not adequately explain visual imagery I do not delve too deeply into verbal explanations. To quote Gao Xingjian, artist and Nobel Prize Laureate for Literature :

“… Painting begins where language fails. When you paint you toss out concepts and words...” 2

1. Gao Xingjian, ‘Thoughts on Painting’ in Ink Paintings by Gao Xingjian (New Jersey: Homa & Sekey Books, 2002) p.11
2. Gao Xingjian, Return to Painting (New York: HarperCollins Publishers Inc., 2002) p.39-40