Exhibiting Artist
Jan Handel
“I love when students say that the way in which they see the world has changed – that they are more visually literate – to me that signifies that they are internalising the fabulous stuff they are learning.”
Exhibiting Artist
Jan Handel
“I love when students say that the way in which they see the world has changed – that they are more visually literate – to me that signifies that they are internalising the fabulous stuff they are learning.”
What do you enjoy most about teaching?
“Teaching the ‘Elements and Principles of Design’ is wonderful – I never get tired of it – it’s the visual language the students will use throughout their careers. I love the idea that those elements are the absolute basics of the visual world and that they can be applied to anything – that’s all there is! There’s also such joy is seeing students go from drawing-frightened to making a drawing they are pleased with – I always get goose bumps.”
Can you tell us about your art?
“The work I make fits within the broad category of ‘geometric abstraction’, almost the opposite to landscape painting. I paint mainly on clear Perspex, on both sides, using acrylic paint in pure bright colours that overlap to create new colours. I often use shaped panels to make the works more ‘object-like’ rather than referring back to traditional image-based painting. I love the conceptual thinking, endless conversations and arguments that abstraction generates. There’s such liberation in freeing painting from the need to be tied to an image – a whole new world opens up.”
Tell us about exhibiting in Paris…
“I am associated with an artist-run space in Marrickville, Factory 49, which shows only abstract and non-objective work. I like that rigorous specificity. The director of that gallery created a ‘sister’ gallery in Paris – Factory 49 Paris – and invited me to have a solo show there. A dream come true!
I lived in the small residence behind the gallery for a month while the show was on. The work was called Inside a Painting, Gently, an installation of wide criss-crossing translucent coloured bands that filled the gallery space from wall to wall. My pre-show fear was that the installation would collapse during the exhibition. (It didn’t.) I was so preoccupied with that fear that I was unprepared for the joy and delight viewers expressed when they walked amongst the colour. I just wish I could speak French!”
What do you teach?
“I teach the beginning part of the course – The Elements and Principles of Design, Composition, Drawing, Colour, Creativity, Concepts and Design Styles. By the time the students fire up their computers, I’m gone! I think it’s so important to give students a slightly different perspective on the visual world. For some students it’s the first time they’ve thought about art since high school, and for many, the first time they’ve drawn in as many years.
The language of art and design is, at its core, the same. It’s good for students to understand that. Design has the elements of functionality and utility as well, of course, so understanding the connection broadens their visual learning so can think artistically as well as functionality.”
Seduction System, Oil and wax on panel 30 cm diameter 2013
Composition 2, Oil on primed paper, 34 x 34 cm, 2013
Caravan IV, Acrylic on Perspex 18 x 18 x 1 cm 2019
Explore her work at janhandel.net
What do you enjoy most about teaching?
“Teaching the ‘Elements and Principles of Design’ is wonderful – I never get tired of it – it’s the visual language the students will use throughout their careers. I love the idea that those elements are the absolute basics of the visual world and that they can be applied to anything – that’s all there is! There’s also such joy is seeing students go from drawing-frightened to making a drawing they are pleased with – I always get goose bumps.”
Can you tell us about your art?
“The work I make fits within the broad category of ‘geometric abstraction’, almost the opposite to landscape painting. I paint mainly on clear Perspex, on both sides, using acrylic paint in pure bright colours that overlap to create new colours. I often use shaped panels to make the works more ‘object-like’ rather than referring back to traditional image-based painting. I love the conceptual thinking, endless conversations and arguments that abstraction generates. There’s such liberation in freeing painting from the need to be tied to an image – a whole new world opens up.”
Tell us about exhibiting in Paris…
“I am associated with an artist-run space in Marrickville, Factory 49, which shows only abstract and non-objective work. I like that rigorous specificity. The director of that gallery created a ‘sister’ gallery in Paris – Factory 49 Paris – and invited me to have a solo show there. A dream come true!
I lived in the small residence behind the gallery for a month while the show was on. The work was called Inside a Painting, Gently, an installation of wide criss-crossing translucent coloured bands that filled the gallery space from wall to wall. My pre-show fear was that the installation would collapse during the exhibition. (It didn’t.) I was so preoccupied with that fear that I was unprepared for the joy and delight viewers expressed when they walked amongst the colour. I just wish I could speak French!”
What do you teach?
“I teach the beginning part of the course – The Elements and Principles of Design, Composition, Drawing, Colour, Creativity, Concepts and Design Styles. By the time the students fire up their computers, I’m gone! I think it’s so important to give students a slightly different perspective on the visual world. For some students it’s the first time they’ve thought about art since high school, and for many, the first time they’ve drawn in as many years.
The language of art and design is, at its core, the same. It’s good for students to understand that. Design has the elements of functionality and utility as well, of course, so understanding the connection broadens their visual learning so can think artistically as well as functionality.”
Seduction System, Oil and wax on panel 2013
Composition 2, Oil on primed paper 2013
Caravan IV, Acrylic on Perspex 2019
Explore her work at janhandel.net
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