Gillian Robinson: Nothing Permanent

North House Gallery is delighted to present this extraordinary exhibition of paintings on paper by Dr Gillian Robinson. The 67 works, initially based on the notion of Nothing Permanent evolved over time to express ideas of ancestors and family.

Nothing Permanent was started in lockdown and turned into a daily half hour ritual that lasted for five years. As a way of making the A1 (594x84 mm) handmade Arches paper last longer, for each sheet she challenged herself to paint over the previous day’s work, whether she liked it or not, for twelve days, making a daily photographic and written journal of progress. “Initially I tried to make each day’s production a ‘picture’ but gradually the materials took over and the changes became less deliberate... I experimented with, and combined, many materials: oil paint; acrylic; tester pots and natural pigment found by a friend. The words ‘nothing permanent’ featured in each painting, sometimes written in paint. Figures began to emerge.” “The breakthrough came when I introduced beeswax. I initially covered the entire sheet of paper with melted beeswax, writing ‘nothing permanent’ into the surface with a variety of fine chisels, always with my left hand. I normally use my right hand but use my left in the studio, even writing in the studio journal. It seems to result in more painterly and less controlled marks. The marks were rubbed with Paynes grey oil paint, sometimes with ‘Six Bells’, a limited edition burnt ochre, and it was easy to rub the paint clear of areas where I felt it wasn’t needed. Gradually towards the end of each twelve days’ process, figures like ‘ancestors’ began to emerge. I would find one maybe one day and the next day there would be additional figures, some more distinct than others. In some paintings they look as if they are dancing in some kind of group ritual. Sometimes I found them by rubbing paint away, sometimes by carving round with a small knife and sometimes by painting them in. The works resonate with the primitive nature of cave paintings and speak of ancestors past, present and future.” At the end of the project, she pushed the theme of ‘nothing permanent’ by ceasing to be precious about the paintings, creating three-dimensional objects, origami folded books.The last four paintings were folded in this way too and then Coptic bound. These book/objects will also be exhibited.. Dr Gillian Robinson, Reader Emerita at Anglia Ruskin University, gained her MA and PhD in Art & Design from the University of London in 1984 and 1989 respectively. Since 1986 she has had seven solo shows in the UK, USA, Japan, Israel and Cyprus and shown in three dozen group shows in those same countries. Between 1991 and 2018 she participated in numerous collaborations with the poet Peter Wilson. Her work is in public and private collections in Africa, Australia, Germany, Israel, Japan, Russia, UK and USA.

What to expect:
Drawing, Painting, Mixed media