Jillian Bogan
Sonder
April 11 - 15, 2023
Gordon Snelgrove Gallery, open Tuesday to Saturday, 10 - 4pm
Reception: Friday, April 14th from 7pm - Late
Sonder: the realization that each random … [being] is living a life as vivid and complex as your own
― The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows
My current exhibition involved experimentation with ideas, materials and with letting go of control. In my paintings, I explore people and events in an expressive way and also by allowing paint to flow freely through raw canvas. In my mixed-media work, I use living organisms, allowing them to grow freely and I work with recycled materials, assembling them in new ways. These were all processes of exploration which allowed me to approach every piece as I do with everything: with a sense of light and humor.
My painting practice is two-fold. On the one hand, I enjoy doing figurative paintings to depict what I see and convey the expression of people. Candid moments and expressive faces have always captured my attention. My abstract paintings, in contrast, show how I feel. I like to work with large canvas, so the process is more physically interactive while using colours that resonate and interact with each other to convey feelings. I am in awe of the human experience, and I use art to communicate ideas. Being a human is so complicated. We’re affected by each other but also affected by the past. Everyone’s life is so vivid. Billions of stories are being told all at once, and though the stories of some have ended and new stories are being started, pieces of every story get carried on in chapters of other’s stories in different ways in a seemingly never-ending cycle. And all I can do is try to capture small pieces as they pass by.
In my mixed-media works, I also consider how things are connected, much as I do when thinking about people in my paintings. When making Inter-woven, I used recycled materials collected from many people who fed their beloved animals. I transformed them by hammering, drilling, and linking them to hang in a new and surprising way. The use of mushrooms in Hyphae, and the way the mushroom groupings are associated with each other, reflects on how non-human beings are interconnected like people.
This exhibition touches on how I experience Sonder. From delving into complicated emotions, considering how political policies effect people differently, sourcing materials from different people and imagining their lives with their pets, and the interconnectedness of the hyphae of mushrooms, this exhibition explores a small number of infinite and overwhelming ingredients that go into the realization that each random …[being] is living a life as vivid and complex as your own.
About the Artist
Jillian Bogan has enjoyed creating art for a long time and began exhibiting her work around Saskatoon in bars and restaurants in 2010. She spent 2 years pursuing a formal arts education then took time off school to work, returning to complete a BSc in Biology in 2018. After graduating, Jill worked for two wildlife organizations as a wildlife technician helping injured and orphaned wildlife.
During her science studies, Jill continued having exhibitions, commissions and created a coffee table book of her artworks. Eventually she was able to focus solely on creating art and returned to the U of S in 2020 to continue the BFA program, attending the Chateau D’Orquevaux artist residency in France and earning a certificate in Curatorial Studies from the Salzburg International Fine Arts Summer Academy during this time.
After a long and varied road in education, both formal and informal, Jillian is very excited to finally receive her Bachelors, Fine Arts.
Beni Shen
Hypnagogic
April 11 - 15, 2023
Gordon Snelgrove Gallery, open Tuesday to Saturday, 10 - 4pm
Reception: Friday, April 14th from 7pm - Late
"Lucidity is the wound closest to the sun." ― René Char
The core concept underlying the "Hypnagogic" involves departing from prevailing societal norms and materialistic values. It explores the enigmatic and ambiguous space between sleep and wakefulness, where the self and emotions intermingle in ways that challenge conventional interpretation. My works are designed to convey fragmented imagery inspired by my surrounding environment, dreams, and personal feelings, to reflect my non-linear and unpredictable nature of inner expression. Here I delve into the transitional states between consciousness and unconsciousness and the intersection of reality and the subconscious mind through various paintings, prints, and sculptures.
Among these subjects are a philosopher illuminated by a light bulb, an old woman conversing with a green goat, and a sleeping person with red-rooted leaves growing. I created a dialogue between the various scenes and characters using overlapping palettes, creating a transformative, surrealistic vision. My paintings influence my prints, and my sculptures are usually based on my sketches, but the ideas are interrelated. The ceramic light bulbs also serve as a metaphor for the repetition of my dreams and everyday life, attempting to add an additional layer of depth.
I extend a cordial invitation to explore this liminal space and witness my hallucinations' surreal and fleeting moments. As René Char writes, "lucidity is the wound closest to the sun," I hope your imagination is granted the freedom to roam unrestrained and transcends the boundaries of our physical world.
About the Artist
Chen (Beni) Shen, an artist from Shanghai, China, currently resides in Saskatoon and is pursuing her BFAH degree at the U of S. Her creative work is informed by contemplations on life, dreams, and emotions, exploring themes of identity, memory, and imagination. Drawing from her background as an ER nurse, her art offers a distinct perspective on the value of life and the delicate nature of human existence.
Beni's art represents a profound and personal exploration of identity and imagination, encouraging viewers to understand uniquely and explore their inner subconscious. Her artwork invites reflection on individual experiences and emotions and attempts to cultivate a shared space of introspection and discovery.
Jillian Bogan
Sonder
