Week #1 - Jenny Watson

Reflection on Jenny Watson’s exhibition Chronicles.

What do you feel you have got out of looking at this exhibition?

This exhibition made me think about the use of text in works. We are also looking a lot at text in drawing class right now. It was very interesting how Watson used text panels with he paintings. Instead of combining them into the one work. I really like her works with the figure and the side accompanying text works. I like the narrative aspect of these works and the story she tells. 

Can personal work have much meaning to other people?

Personal work can have a big impact on other people. Art is such a personal experience and the artwork that reflects an artist's experiences can reflect another person's current or past life events. Seeing this in a work can be very emotional for the viewer. It lets the viewer know they are not alone in their experience. It can conjure memories, good or bad. It can help them make decisions in their life. Sometimes 

Can personal work be political in any way?

I think personal work can be political, whether the artist sets out with the intention to convey their political views or not. It can't be helped. Creating an artwork is such a personal experience and our own life experiences help shape what we create. These opinions are ingrained into us and it can't help but come through in the work we create. In Watson's exhibition there is a lot of strong themes; feminism is one of them. Feminism is such a strong political topic that, by default, the work takes a political stance.

What do you think was effective in the display of the works?

I like the way the exhibition was set up. The way each area flowed together, First with the use of the landscape and photograph; then onto the catalogue/newspaper paintings; then the Alice in Wonderland pieces; then the almost-self-portrait-works with accompanying text panels; and then the mixed media works. I like the use of the three coloured panels to break up the gallery space and help navigate the audience around the exhibition. 

I do question the placement of the large text panels onto the ground, and whether this helped the viewing of the work or hindered it. 

Over all what ideas do you think this exhibition conveyed?

I definitely think there was an element of self-portraiture throughout the exhibition. Watson put a lot of herself into the works, whether she admits it or not. There is a lot of strong ideas coming through about consumerism, feminism and sexuality. 

'Love Hurts', 1993-94. Jenny Watson.

'Love Hurts', 1993-94. Jenny Watson.

'Boy with a blue guitar', 1992. Jenny Watson.

'Boy with a blue guitar', 1992. Jenny Watson.