I’ve admired Sylvia Paul’s colourful, textured collages for a while on Facebook, so was very excited when she got in touch to tell me that some of her beautiful Japanese inspired pieces will be on display at the Lime Tree Gallery in Bristol next month. I asked her a few questions about her the pieces and her connection with Japan and, of course, there’s info about the exhibition at the bottom.
What is the inspiration behind these pieces?
“Mysterious Interior” an abstract piece inspired by intriguing interiors of some traditional houses in Japan with their subtle colours and textures. Hints of folding screens and ancient calligraphy can be seen in this work.
Memories of mountain walks to shrines and tea houses passing stone lanterns along the way have inspired “Stone Lantern” I particularly love the delicate and subtle textures of the mosses and lichen and the natural colours of the stone.
Looking into the edge of ponds in wonderful gardens has inspired “Pond’s Edge”. The water and fish themes in Japanese art and textiles has influenced this work.
“Kimono Collage” – I have been given several Kimonos and fabric remnants which have inspired this piece.
The sometimes grey cities of Japan cannot be ignored and my “City Colours” is one of several paintings in which I have explored the abstract interpretation of this theme.
Pond’s Edge
Why Japan?
I have visited Japan on four occasions over the passed eight years. I have a Japanese daughter- in- law and have been lucky to have experienced a little of the family life as well as visiting well known tourist sites. After my first trip in 2006 my collage work showed drastic changes as I used an abstract approach to express my feelings of the place. I have held two solo exhibitions of my work in Niigata and Nagoaka. Most recently in 2013 my exhibition at the Sakura Gallery in Nagoaka was a near sell out.
City Colours
Let’s talk about process. What steps do you take when creating each piece?
My Japanese inspired pieces tend to be quite abstract as I try to express my feelings and memories of the place. I also feel that Japanese art and textiles including the many Kimonos I have been given has influenced my work. While visiting the country I collect all sorts of paper including beautiful origami papers and handmade papers. I also particularly like saving everyday paper such as newspaper, packaging, tickets and Manga books. I have been given 100yr old accounts books, Kimono wrapping papers, and handmade papers.
I sometimes start a painting with just a little idea of what I want to achieve but quite often I start with just colour and texture. I use the handmade papers to create texture and build up the work with layers of acrylic paint and usually torn pieces of paper which are applied with PVA glue. My photos can help to spark an idea but usually I try to take my self back to the places and tap into memories. Having visited many shrines gardens and traditional houses I tend to try to focus on a general feeling about my experiences rather than a very specific place. My work “Stone Lantern” is an example of this as is”Mysterious Interior”.
Kimono Collage
How did your style develop?
Before my trips to Japan my paintings were all worked either from a sketch or photograph and the Japan experience completely changed my approach. I started using all sorts of papers in my collage where as before it was only paper I had coloured myself. I felt that an abstract approach was the only way I could really express my feelings about the experience. I have continued working in this way ever since in not only my Japan inspired work but also now my still life and landscapes at home. My exhibitions in Japan were of paintings inspired by England and I used papers such as old maps, stamps, and music.
Stone Lantern
Can you tell us a bit about the exhibition?
These five paintings inspired by Japan are to be part of a mixed exhibition “May Array” at The Lime Tree Gallery in Bristol. I have been showing with this gallery and their other gallery in Long Melford, Suffolk since they opened about 10 years ago. The Lime Tree Gallery was the first gallery to show my Japan inspired work about six years ago. Since then it is a theme I often return to and have shown many works in galleries including The Summer Exhibition at the Royal Academy in 2009 and The East West Art Award at La Galleria in Pall Mall.
Mysterious Interior
The exhibition starts on the 1st May. To see more of Sylvia’s work, check out her website.
Have you been inspired by a specific country before? Let us know in the comments!
