Katarina Knox
When you see red, do you think of me?
My painting practice explores the notion of preserving the fluidity of memory, incorporating elements of feminine perspective, nostalgia and ambiguity. Drawing from personal photo archives, my works capture private, intimate moments shared between people and the memories that stem from them. The visuals are informed from personal relationships and the experiences within contemporary life as a young woman. Monochromatic reds with warm yellow accents, are used to create tranquil and nostalgic visuals of an impression of memory. The various qualities and tones of reds and yellows elicit diverse emotions of comfort and familiarity, all while maintaining a harmonious balance. Red holds particular significance as it symbolizes the embodiment of my feminine identity and my individual life experiences. Close compositions, suggestive brushwork and transparent layering are used to create a suggestive visual narrative of a memory with an underlying sense of ambiguity. The elimination of additional context or information such as the environment, mise-en-scène, and an individual's identity aligns with the fluidity of memory. Memories are often fragmented, with some aspects being more vividly recalled than others. We typically don't retain the entire experience, leaving questions about what was occurring in the background or who the unfamiliar individuals in our memories might be.
