The transcendental ambiguities of BETHANY CZARNECKI
Massey Klein Gallery is pleased to present A memory, eternal, a solo exhibition of new paintings by Bethany Czarnecki. The exhibition will be on view through October 21, 2023.
A memory, eternal presents a dynamic collection of new works from Bethany Czarnecki. Building upon her repertoire of transcendentally ambiguous, yet unmistakably female forms in saturated, polychromatic hues, Czarnecki’s newest paintings incorporate jewel tones and magnified bending shapes to create immersive sensory experiences.
Employing color as a carrier of emotion, the artist’s paintings explore the evocative relationships between light and shadow while conjuring a unique sense of place.
Interview by Interlocutor Magazine
How did you develop your technique of using color and form to carry and impart emotion? Why do you think abstraction works best for what you are trying to convey with your work?
Painting has allowed me to distill emotion and articulate thoughts in a unique manner. The ambiguity of abstraction places color and shape in the forefront, which I believe allows for a purely emotional response – stretching the use of imagination and interpretation. The sense of imagination and vagueness is what brings me back to the canvas every day, pushing me to discover new ways to create sensory experiences in a two-dimensional plane. My painting process is slow, forcing me to sit with my own thoughts. While in my studio, I am ever present and critical, allowing time for reflection. It becomes a sacred, meditative experience of sorts that was born out of layering paint upon paint…
BURNING SUMMIT, 2023, Oil on canvas, 60 x 48 inches
NIGHTINGALE, 2023, Oil on canvas, 48 x 48 inches
Your work is expressively biomorphic, and while feminine forms are clearly present, do you also reference or draw inspiration from any other specific elements of nature and landscape?
There are vague references to landscapes, botany, the female body, and emotions. I try not to provide too much context or inform how the painting should be viewed because I want them to serve as an experience. Even if there are abstract references to the body or psyche through a feminine lens, they are open-ended. The paintings are sensuous and merge colorful abstractions with illusions to the female form and Mother nature. They tend to be surreal experiences that evoke a subconscious understanding and placement of space.
CALLA LILY SWEEP, 2023, Oil on canvas, 40 x 30 inches
ELECTRIC GEYSER, 2023, Oil on canvas, 40 x 30 inches
A Memory, eternal is your third solo exhibition with Massey Klein Gallery. In what ways do you think your work may have evolved over the course of three shows?
My work inherently responds to specific feelings where I reference the idea of color field paintings through swathes of color with the use of line and light as a differentiator. The biomorphic shapes of the compositions have evolved over the years as has the use of light and shadow. I’ve worked hard to push the compositions to a more complex place, creating a sensory experience that incites a variety of responses. The references in the paintings remain, but the technicality of how the paint is applied has evolved.
What does the title A Memory, eternal mean for you, and how do you believe it fits with the nine works in this show?
I painted the show over the course of one year. Each painting was its own entity, its own story. As I sat with the work for the show, I recalled the prior ten or so months and thought about how each painting fit into my own experiences. As I reflected on the notion, I thought about fleeting moments in time, experiences, relationships – our memories and how these memories are touchstones for the human experience. With that, I came full circle to how paintings and art can serve as a tangible landmark to memories.
REFRACTED ROSE, 2023, Oil on canvas, 60 x 48 inches
PEARL, 2023, Oil on canvas, 40 x 30 inches
Your work has clear aspects of motion, and the chromatic harmonies have an almost musical nature to them. Have you ever considered collaborating with sound artists or incorporating your style into other multimedia forms?
How fascinating that you picked up on this. I have thought about the correlation between my paintings and harmonies or lyrical notes. I would absolutely welcome the opportunity to collaborate with a sound artist. I think it would provide an interesting dynamic to my paintings that would heighten the sensory experience. The abstracted nature of the work allows the viewer to connect in a way that makes sense to them, but I do think sound as a guide could intensify the experience of the paintings. My motivation to paint is the desire to create beauty that invites someone to step inside a world that is dreamlike and contemplative – sound would enhance this. I want to tap into the human connection and create a sensory experience. That’s what draws me back to painting.
A memory, eternal will be on view through October 21, 2023 at Massey Klein Gallery, 124 Forsyth Street, New York, NY
