Dreamscape VII

Joni-Leigh Doran 2023
 
 oil on paper 29.5 x 42cm in ECHT kiaat wood frames 44,5 x 62cm.
 
This painting is part of Joni's "Dreamscape" series.
 
"These paintings are an enquiry into the idea of deja-vu, or the dream-like state of semi consciousness one experiences when traveling vast distances by car, bus or train. The sensation of racing past organic shapes of trees, of birds and mountains in their elements - cloudscapes, fog and countryside, all so fleeting. Feeling a deep sense of longing to escape. To stop and inhale the experience of being wholly immersed in the landscape - in nature."
 
Artists' Statement
‘From a tiny rural village in West Bali to an isolated farm in the Klein Karoo, I spent a significant part of my adulthood rebelling against a “conventional life”. I consistently chose to live in places with big skies, wild seas and vast landscapes teeming with life (and as little of the human kind as possible). It was in 2021, shortly before my 40th birthday, that I took up residence in the village of McGregor, “only for a time” I told myself. But once here I realized how much I’d missed the sense of community I never knew I’d been longing for. Living among other creatives and people who, like me, believe in inclusivity, in living lightly and in harmony with nature, it wasn’t long I fell in love and before I knew it, I’d put down roots. I have yet to find a more peaceful and inspiring place to live.’