Justine Turnbull

Exploring Transformation Through Art

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My focus is the human condition, seen through the lens of the archetype of transformation. The cycle of destruction and renewal is the only thing in our universe that remains constant. It is seen in the natural world, and reflected in the peaks and troughs of our daily experience. It acts as a catalyst for self-discovery and growth, as we strive to rebuild.

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We are bound by physical laws that constrain us and determine our life transitions and choices. I draw on myth as a structural template to help us navigate the moral conundrums that come with our age and stage. But my particular interest are the accounts of experiences which beg the existence of a world beyond our current understanding. Examples are near death experiences, 'siddhis', the supernormal'.~Quantum entanglement theory questions our mechanistic world view, opening our minds to explanations of reality that don't fit within our current scope of knowledge.

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I aim to capture both the controlled and chaotic, the mundane and the mysterious in my work. My paintings are characterised by expressive mark, strong forms and a sense of turbulence reflects the theme of perpetual change. I work at the intersection of figuration and abstraction; as elements dissolve and reassert themselves, disorienting the viewer and placing them in the ‘eye of the storm’.

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I graduated from Dunedin School of Art with a BFA in ceramics, then ran a successful business selling ceramic sculpture from Shelly Bay until 2004. Since then I have concentrated on painting, gaining an MFA, teaching and exhibiting my work.