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Jan White - Artist

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Jan White initially trained as a designer, then as a painter, and after a decade or so began working with 3 dimensional sculptural forms.

Using a variety of materials; clay and wax for casting in metal, wood, perspex, scrap metal, slate, stone and found objects; White attempts to reduce form to the barest reflection of a meaningful coda.

Themes she works with contemplate issues around the fourth dimension (the philosophical/spiritual), the purpose of a human life, and long-standing Western cultural values based on Neo-Platonic humanism developed during the Renaissance.

Her work divides into two related streams: simple organic forms that invoke a meditative state are one facet. A second area comprises thought provoking compositions that incorporate large, highly simplified forms painted in oils, sometimes combined with additional found objects and/or projected video narratives, which address philosophical, social and political issues.

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Studio Shot
Red archway oil painting
Landscape Sculpture
Bowl water feature by Jan White

Details

Further Information: During the 1970s, White began to exhibit her paintings with Moller's Gallery Group Shows in Queen Street, Auckland with artists such as Colin McCahon, Pat Hanley, David Armitage and others. Later she showed regularly with New Vision Gallery, RKS Gallery and, more recently, with Duke Edmiston Gallery next to the Auckland City Public Gallery, the New Gallery in central Auckland. As well as studying practical fine arts and design, White has an MA in Comparative Languages and Literatures and Art History. Her MA thesis examines the symbolism in the work of New Zealand born New York kinetic sculptor and film maker Len Lye. Her PhD analyses symbolic themes and motifs in the work of historical and contemporary painters and also used by Expressionist painter Colin McCahon.
Further Information: White is often asked to write articles on other artists' work and has been invited to curate shows in Auckland at Lopdell House Public Gallery: Text and Image, and an exhibition of international artists at Oxford University, England: The Inspiration of Astronomical Inspiration. Other disciplines of keen interest to White are philosophy and recurring associated social issues, comparative literature and cultural studies. All of her activities and travels fuel and fire her artistic production. For the past fourteen years, White has taught Freehand Drawing, Figure and Life Drawing to third year students in the School of Architecture, University of Auckland.