Crystal Chambers no. 15 (Blue-eyed Fox at pool)

Jessica Webster
Crystal Chambers no. 15 (Blue-eyed Fox at pool), 2020
Oil paint and wax on jute canvas
Work: 150 x 120 x 5 cm

For this painting, exhibited as part of a new body of work at Goodman Gallery in Johannesburg this year, Webster used jute fabric instead of typical cotton. In order to transfer pigment onto this unforgiving surface, Webster used a cold wax substrate mixed with paint. Webster describes the motivation behind this as a “desire to challenge contemporary painting and to drag it down.” Explaining further, the artist points to the trend of paintings that “move toward showcasing the transcendence of various experiences”. Instead, Webster wanted to create work that references this style of painting while concurrently challenging the viewer to move beyond what might be typified as beautiful. Or in the artist’s words, “anti-aesthetic”.