Susana Espinoza: Colour Reflections

9 April - 25 August 2015

Artist Statement

The exploration of color is the driver behind Susana's painting. While dynamic shapes and the power of proportion provide the canvas for this interplay, her work is more about duality, the warm and cool, the light and dark, and how they relate and communicate with one another.

In her work, Susana pushes color pigments to near perfection by relying on her intuitive knowledge of color along with a complex application of mediums and supports.

She describes the outcome as "Floating color," which is created through tireless experimentation with depth of surface. The colour pigments are suspended in a fluid medium, then meticulously superimposed one layer upon another. The result is gem-like transparency and reflectivity.

In contrast, Susana also produces a textural series that she describes as "raw and tactile". The heavy texture in these paintings achieve lightness and depth by the way it is built; opaque versus transparent, static versus floating layers.

Texture is elevated to a third dimension in her latest "construction" series. Susana cuts, colors, weaves and glues aluminium pieces on to her paintings. The suspended texture is then contrasted by a smooth support, which casts shadows and reflections to add to the visual experience.