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Joe Mus

Artist Statement

 

The climate of Guilin, China is one of high humidity and flooding rains throughout much of the year.  During my study of the peoples and language of Guilin I let myself be taken by a multitude of "distractions."  Habits form and consume my days like the mildew and molds that spread through the rooms.

 

Days seep through one another as do the layers of water stains on the eves and the brilliant mosses that colonize the concrete and clay.  The atmosphere consists not only of weather, but also of the massive cloud of humanity settling ever denser and wider into this land of beautiful karst mountains.

Created by the slow seepage of water and paint, and aided by a suffocating humidity, the paintings are an extension of the dense fog of life that I perceive here.  Long strips of wet cloth are laid out over rice paper,
Guohua paint (very similar to watercolor) is then applied to the wet cloths,
and then left to its own processes for up to several days.  In the intense
moisture and heat of Guilin's spring and summer season, the paint seeps out and spreads over large areas of the paper, forming changing currents, and constantly transforming.  I think of the paintings growing through the heavy swamp night, continually painting themselves in a fog of flowing dreams.

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.  IMAGES COPYRIGHT OF THE ARTIST.  WEBSITE COPYRIGHT OF GALLERY 7126, LTD.

 

 

 

 

Gallery 7126, Ltd.

1127 NW 16th

Portland, OR  97209

503/238-7126

 

gallery7126@aol.com

 

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Text Box: Joe Mus Artist Statement   The climate of Guilin, China is one of high humidity and flooding rains throughout much of the year.  During my study of the peoples and language of Guilin I let myself be taken by a multitude of "distractions."  Habits form and consume my days like the mildew and molds that spread through the rooms.   Days seep through one another as do the layers of water stains on the eves and the brilliant mosses that colonize the concrete and clay.  The atmosphere consists not only of weather, but also of the massive cloud of humanity settling ever denser and wider into this land of beautiful karst mountains. Created by the slow seepage of water and paint, and aided by a suffocating humidity, the paintings are an extension of the dense fog of life that I perceive here.  Long strips of wet cloth are laid out over rice paper, Guohua paint (very similar to watercolor) is then applied to the wet cloths, and then left to its own processes for up to several days.  In the intense moisture and heat of Guilin's spring and summer season, the paint seeps out and spreads over large areas of the paper, forming changing currents, and constantly transforming.  I think of the paintings growing through the heavy swamp night, continually painting themselves in a fog of flowing dreams. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.  IMAGES COPYRIGHT OF THE ARTIST.  WEBSITE COPYRIGHT OF GALLERY 7126, LTD.         Gallery 7126, Ltd. 1127 NW 16th Portland, OR  97209 503/238-7126   gallery7126@aol.com   Home | Events | Artists | Location | News | Classes | Contact | Links