What’s Kraken’?
This new body of work explores the paradoxical states of the domestic and the exotic – both of which are informed by my relocation to a small fishing village in rural Australia as the wife of a commercial abalone diver. These seemingly juxtaposing conditions, one embodying the quaint pastoral view that a woman should be a child rearing, home keeping figure against my personal desire to surf empty waves and chase adventure to the far reaches of the globe. Imagery used to depict this tension is taken from vintage children’s book illustrations consisting of tall ships, ocean explorers, and strange, possibly mythical, sea creatures. The feeling of domesticity is conveyed through the use of fabric sewn directly onto the painted canvas, in itself a traditionally ‘domestic’ act. With equal parts pirate banter, widow’s walks, and grandma’s quilt “What’s Kraken’?”is as comfortable in a New York white cube as above a baby’s crib. by Vanessa Janss back more artwork about the artist contact v(at)vanessajanss.com for prices and availability Atlacamani Acrylic on canvas, children’s book illustration, fabric, thread 8 x 8 in next