Imagine stepping into a world of vibrant color and raw emotion, where landscapes aren't just seen, but felt. That's the experience awaiting you at Cassandra Dove's solo exhibition at Belco Arts, a showcase of an artist who fearlessly dives into the depths of color and texture. After two decades as a clinical social worker, Dove has burst onto the Canberra art scene in the early 2020s, bringing with her a fresh perspective and a bold approach to painting.
Dove, largely self-taught, isn't afraid to experiment with scale and gestural application, primarily using acrylic paint often combined with oil pastels. Her work is deeply rooted in a sense of place, yet it transcends mere representation. She transforms the familiar into something intensely personal, swirling fields of color and textural marks that invite you to lose yourself in the experience. She works in series, revisiting her canvases as layers dry, constantly evolving and refining her vision.
One of the exhibition's centerpieces is The Bellas, a monumental painting stretching roughly two meters high and over one and a half meters across. It's a prime example of Dove's strengths, creating an immersive surface that pulls the viewer in. Here, sky, trees, bushland, and water meld into a watery vision, both abstract and evocative, with suspended forms that hint at the figurative. But here's where it gets controversial...
Mastering the abstracted landscape is a tightrope walk. While Dove's work evokes an emotional intensity, some pieces, including The Bellas, don't quite achieve the resolved solidity of a fully realized artwork. The author finds The Bellas to be a success, particularly due to its expressive gestures, while others in the show fall short.
Another standout piece is Candy Dreams and Peppermint, a large, immersive painting that explodes with a riot of colors, from pinks and greens to browns and ochres. Created with acrylics, oil pastels, and watercolor markers, this piece creates a rippling sensation, where different perceptions of space and depth dance across the dense surface. It's a celebration of the act of painting itself, a rare and precious quality often missing in contemporary exhibitions.
Other notable works include the focused square painting Autumn Architecture and the dissolving canvas Poplar Pride and Confetti, which expertly manipulates color to create a sense of depth.
This exhibition is a testament to Dove's boldness and freedom, her desire to share her excitement for the local landscape through an immersive experience.
Cassandra Dove: Behind the View is at Belco Arts, West Gallery, 118 Emu Bank, Belconnen, and closes on November 30th. It's open Tuesday to Sunday from 10 am to 4 pm.
What do you think? Do you agree with the author's assessment of Dove's work? Which pieces resonate with you the most, and why? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
