Subliminal Influences

About

The exhibition takes place in Gallery 1, a large space that has been skilfully arranged to create an intimate and harmonious atmosphere among the artworks. The artists' pieces engage in a fascinating conversation with each other, enhancing the overall experience for the viewer.

The use of the room's height is commendable, as all three artists have utilised 3 metre long canvas rolls to create their unique interpretations, which effectively tie the exhibition together. 

Sue Bridge's paintings immediately draw attention with their bold and expressive strokes, which vividly capture the energy and movement of sea swimmers - an activity she herself joyfully participates in. The paintings almost come alive, breathing life into her swimming buddies on the canvas. Her award-winning art is inspired by cold water swimming, ice, and thermal waters. Her most recent paintings sparked by a trip to   Iceland led to new angles in her work, leading to larger scale, textural oil paintings characterised by gestural brush strokes. Each colour carefully chosen to amplify mood and emotion, Sue's artwork adds a captivating contrast and complement to the exhibition.

Zel Hunt's work presents a compelling abstract take on the traces of existence buried or partly revealed in the local landscape. Through a masterful use of colour relationships and surface textures, Zel's paintings resemble pages of an enticing book, inviting viewers to create their own narratives and interpretations. Her fascination with real and imagined forms in the coastal landscape, shaped by lives once lived, adds an imaginative and thought-provoking element to her pieces.

Jeanette Cook's specialisation in sculpture, fused glass work, and painting comes together in her exquisite creations. Her work is deeply rooted in a sense of awe for the natural world, exploring themes of sex, birth, death, and the cyclical rhythms of life. From bones and desiccated flora to hidden contents of pods and seeds, Jeanette's pieces evoke a spirit of what once was or might have been. Her art transcends faithful representation, residing in the captivating realm between reality and the imagination.

The relationship between the three artists' works is perfect, demonstrating a harmonious blend of styles, themes, and inspirations. Their shared love for nature, the coast, and their respective mediums creates a cohesive and delightful exhibition that resonates with viewers on multiple levels.

I highly recommend visiting ‘Subliminal Influences’ at the Horsebridge Arts Centre before it closes on 31 July. The free admission allows everyone to experience the uplifting and captivating world these three talented artists have created. Prepare to be inspired and immersed in the beauty and wonder of nature and the coast, interpreted through the unique and skilful lenses of Sue Bridge, Zel Hunt, and Jeanette Cook.

www.sue-bridge.co.uk    

Instagram: @sue_bridge  

www.zelhunt.com  

Instagram: @zelhunt_uk  

www.jeanettecook.co.uk

Instagram: @jeanettecook77