Sanderson Contemporary Art
Sanderson Contemporary Art offers an extensive collection of contemporary fine art from a range of artists at differing stages of career development. Our focus is to provide a highly professional dealer environment which fosters the practice of our artists, while bringing the best in contemporary art to our collectors. Currently showing Lost Occasions by Cruz Jimenez…
In Lost Occasions Cruz Jimenez explores the interplay between moment and memory. His collection of images depicts scenes which occur, are experienced, and are then lost in an instant. His paintings and installations catch forms, symbols and patterns at one moment in time, referencing the manner in which memories are formed: items of significance are grouped, a context merely hinted at in shadowy depths of the backgrounds. Using motifs from the art of Japanese scroll painting, works are often highly detailed and finely painted, with many layers and veils of paint partially obscuring the forms.
“Cruz Jimenez hints at a sense of wonder hidden just below the surface of the recognised, the known, the ‘everyday’. His is an oeuvre where it is only our perception of realities which separates us from a magic that is ever-present – if we will look beyond the mundane and allow ourselves to fully appreciate what is around us, we will see the wonder in the world as the artist sees it.
While his works are essentially abstract, they present a veiled imagery that brings forth an intuitive understanding of the form being
conveyed. We can recognise insects, birds, fish, leaves, trees, fire, clouds - a plethora of natural elements reside in this artist’s garden. Essentially optimistic, Jimenez imparts a sense of the miraculous in the small lives of everyday creatures – a pile of leaves being disturbed sets loose a furling mass of activity; a fire generates a rain of ruby sparks; a rippling pool disturbs the inhabitants and they dance under the surface of the water. Rather than painting specific creatures, Jimenez portrays his actors almost as parcels of life of ambiguous form. This ambiguity allows the viewer to recognise more easily the metaphor for human life which is developed through his pieces.
Although dealing with an essentially irresolvable theme of human
mortality and the hopelessness surrounding this, there is a warmth and thanksgiving as well as humour in these works which allows this
difficult subject matter an easy and subtle treatment. Because of the beauty of the surfaces and the materials, we are drawn to the work – yet we stay engaged because of the larger themes and emotional potency which the pieces convey. Thus, hope may be derived and
sustained though depictions of beauty – yet we gain understanding of hopelessness through the recognition of beauty.”
Adapted from:
‘The Artists: A Snapshot of Contemporary New Zealand Art Practice c. 2007- 2008’