Justine Turnbull

Exploring Transformation Through Art

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My work is an exploration into the human condition, through the lens of the archetype of transformation. The perpetual cycle of destruction and renewal is, famously, 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, acting as a catalyst for self-discovery and growth. In this sense it is hopeful - an ending that is itself a beginning.

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Thematically I draw on myth, as templates to navigate life transitions and moral conundrums. And my particular interest are the unexplainable, yet ubiquitous, experiences that beg the existence of a world beyond the physical. How do we balance the ordinary and extraordinary? the chaotic and controlled? Are we constrained by Fate, or or do we have free will?  What is consciousness? Is there an after-life?

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My style is characterised by expressive mark, strong forms, and a sense of turbulence that 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. I have since gained an MFA in painting and continue to teach and exhibit my work. I work out of my studio in the Wairarapa.