Christine Rasmussen
As a painter I explore themes of femininity, boundaries, belonging and place. I depict vibrant and dynamic cloth shapes that hover and flow through austere urban landscapes. My paintings have been accurately described by E.E. Jacks of Apero International Catalogue as "dramatic and lyrical...stretch[ing] past the paint itself, moving from observation into the abstract...The revelation uncoiling before the eyes is one that states, the origin of this work lies somewhere beyond the obvious."
Indeed, my work is influenced by my nomadic past, the colors and patterns of my international youth, and the striking California light of my adulthood. I distort space, light, and distance to create a dreamlike, almost cinematic environment that evokes a sense of nostalgia and longing. The disembodied garments capture our attention with the remains of an extraordinary presence. We are drawn into the scene, but left wondering what is going on outside of the frame. The disorientation of this intimate, sometimes familiar, captured moment is indicative of the fickle nature of both transition and memory.
The notable absence of any human presence, the in-between spaces and the mundane moments challenge us to reassess our preconceived notions of such binaries as male/female, presence/absence, belonging/otherness and memory/reality. We are left wanting just a little bit more.
For more information about the artist, please visit her website.