touching base with janet yates.

Artist Janet Yates gives Clementine a glimpse at the memories that swim upon her palette. 

Your latest collection, Memories of Exotic Lands, is explosive, the colours leap off the canvas and appear to celebrate these referenced memories. Would you be able to share the most influential memory with us?

The most influential memory is a collective memory from several cultures where we embraced their traditional way of life off the beaten track. Journeys at times that were challenging and local interaction intriguing.

Tell us about these lands; what kind of images and connotations does the word "exotic" have for you?”

Hot and clammy, air filled with aromatic fragrance, pungent stench, poignant and breathless, reckless and dangerous, exquisite and intricate detail, chanting drums beating, unfamiliar cries, echoes and wailing, bright colours, warm colours, earth colours, rituals, blood fire, bare foot, barebreasted, long hair and machetes, weaving and mud etcetera.

A theme in your work seems to be “journeys”, “travel” and “curiosity”.  How would you describe your existence?

Fortunate, challenging, active, peaceful, isolated, stimulating, hardworking, grateful, down to earth.

What does the idea of “home” mean to you?

Sanctuary.

You express a passionate interest in other cultures, in particular those of South East Asia; what is it about these people and places that fascinates you?

I suppose it stemmed from my earliest childhood memories, growing up in Ballarat Victoria, the fascination of watching but never engaging with our local Chinese ponytailed, green grocer, in his horse drawn cart. The urge to embrace the sometimes simplistic yet exotic.

Janet's current exhibition, Memories of Exotic Lands, continues until May 30 at the Zig Zag Gallery in Kalamunda, Perth. To find out more, visit www.janetyates.com.au.

Interviewed by Charlotte Guest.


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