Faculty of Art

Drawing and Painting

Supriya James

"In Between (Essequibo)"

"In Between (Essquibo") is the right-side painting of my 48" X 72" diptych which melds two different landscapes: the Essequibo river in Guyana, the country of my birth, and Go Home Lake in Georgian Bay. Both compositions were inspired by my photographic images. As I see the world in heightened colour and react to it with raw emotion; both landscapes have been created with atypical colours and encompass sublime images of plants’ root systems and waters’ reflections to metaphorically transport my memories and stories.

“My "In-Between" diptych melds two different landscapes: the Essequibo river in Guyana, the country of my birth, and Go Home Lake in Georgian Bay. It consists of two 48" X 36" paintings entitled, "In Between Diptych (Georgian Bay)" and "In Between Diptych (Essequibo)".This work was inspired by my photographic images. As I see the world in heightened colour and react to it with raw emotion; both "In-Between" landscapes ("Georgian Bay" and "Essequibo") have been created with atypical colours and encompass sublime images of plants’ root systems and waters’ reflections to metaphorically transport my memories and stories.This multi-layered work was created with interdisciplinary materials from my Indo-Guyanese culture: ground turmeric spice, a healing agent in ayurvedic medicine, has been integrated into Western art materials, such as acrylic paint and acrylic stains. Turmeric not only manifests my world of cultural hybridization, but also acts as a metaphorical element to encourage my paintings’ viewers to heal the earth. Additionally, charcoal and chalk pastels function as mark-making tooks to link humanity with the natural environment and reflect its immediate need of environmental stewardship."In Between (Essequibo)" manifests my intrinsic reconciliation and acceptance of being shaped by the two beautiful worlds of cultural hybridity emanating from my Indo-Guyanese and Canadian heritages.”