Rosalind Goss

There is a crack, a crack in everything
That’s how the light gets in.
That’s how the light gets in.
That’s how the light gets in.

from the Leonard Cohen song Anthem.

These paintings are explorations of portals as both subject and metaphor. Portals connect two locations in time and space. They represent transition, the passage between one state and another, the space(s) between things. They can be a way in, through, or out.

My imagery is both figurative and abstract, as I do not see representation or abstraction as being mutually exclusive. These paintings reveal both occupied and unoccupied spaces, both inner and outer landscapes.

My process is one of making and unmaking: making marks on the canvas and then partially wiping them off or covering them up. The act of erasure opens up new possibilities for further intuitive drawing as decisions change. Images emerge out of the layers and smudges. My love of minimalist drawing informs my process of painting, as I strive for both intimacy and expressiveness.

Having recently seen the Abstract Expressionist shows in New York and Toronto, I became interested in the idea of scale. I was struck by the sheer size, colour, and huge physical presence of those paintings. In contrast, I wanted to limit myself to a small size and palette. I wanted to draw the viewer in, relate in a more intimate way, while hoping that these small works expand beyond themselves.

ROSALIND GOSS, 2012