The Vibrant Air

Linda Edwards is an artist based in Shropshire with a background in illustration. Her paintings celebrate nature and the connections between living entities; trees, plants animals, and the cosmos. She uses glowing colours reminiscent of Renaissance art and yet the work has a very contemporary feel. Linda is delighted to return to J/M Gallery after a very successful exhibition last year with a completely new collection of paintings. The title of this exhibition The Vibrant Air is a quote from Eliot’s The Four Quartets, a favourite since childhood. Trees are potent beings and often form the heart of a painting. Birds almost universally symbolise the soul or anima, ‘the breath of the world’ and their vibrant energy is a strong theme in many of the paintings. Repetitive pattern forms an important element. Creating these patterns takes a long time, and the process becomes almost meditative. This energy is held in the painting and in turn is given back to the viewer. Details are revealed slowly. Working mainly on paper, often with handmade materials and paints, Linda creates a luminous, vibrant world. Linda’s work is strongly influenced by Medieval art from many different parts of the world; India, Europe, Iran, Turkey, from illuminated manuscripts to textiles and folk art. The viewer is subliminally reminded of ancient motifs and symbols. They run through the centuries to now, anchoring the present moment. She is developing a fascination with Islamic art and sacred geometry. The work is unified by the application of pure gold in the form of gold leaf, often inscribed with further motifs and patterns. “I love the way the gold catches the light. There is a contrast between the matte paint and the glow of the gold. The emphasis in the painting changes through the day with the changing light, so that sometimes parts become silhouettes. It adds a kind of animation to the room and brings warmth and optimism to a space. The moment the gold is finished, the whole painting comes to life.”