You can take the girl out of politics, but can you take politics out of the girl? ESOP end of year show, 2023.

Installation by Jennifer Steele Evans at the Essential School of Painting End of Year show

Thanks to everyone that came to the private view of the Essential School of Painting end of year show ‘Art Matters 2’ at the gorgeous Art Pavilion, Mile End, London.

It’s been one year of soul searching trying to understand the driving forces of my work. It all feels very intuitive and instinctive but the work of the fantastic tutors Liane Lang and Bob Matthews, has been such a help in challenging and helping guide in a supportive alternative online post-gradute forum.

Divide/Unite is a bit if a watershed series. Superficially it is very striking in it’s use of colour. For anyone familiar with my work - it’s a significant departure from the soft, tertiary colours I’d normally use - and deliberately so. It’s ground zero in my realisation - and commitment- to face my shadows and say no to the conformity and obedience that has been put on me - and others, especially females - from birth. So it’s a not so silent scream borne out around the times of protest again abuse towards women in early 2023.

I guess you can take the girl out of politics, but you can’t take politics out of the girl. (I studied and worked in politics for a time, fyi, haha).

If anyone is interested in finding out more about the Essential School of Painting, check the courses on offer here