PARISGRIT VIDEO & SOUND INSTALLATION
Photography – Painting – Collage
In Paris there is beauty everywhere. So where did my ‘head-down’ inspiration for Parisgrit come from?
Probably my contrary view that beauty is what we make it. So I explored the underground spaces, surfaces, corners, crevices, signage, graffiti and even discarded packaging of Paris, finding as much interest there as a tourist sees in the classic art and architecture.
It’s all street art – digital images, street litter and objects for collage – that I impulsively, obsessively collected from the Paris under my feet. Parisgrit is the other beauty of Paris, the ignored and neglected surprises and symbols, filtered through the mischief in my heart and grit in my eyes! Amusez vous …Jenny Davis 2007
In May 2007 ,I traveled to Paris and was part of an exhibition in Berlin with 4 other Melbourne artists, After a few hitches the artists finally enjoyed an opening at the Bob Curtiz Contemporary Movement gallery in Berlin ,which included the attendance of dignitaries’ from the Australian embassy in Germany.
I also spent 3 months in Asnieres-Sur-Seine in Paris, the once home of 18th century painter, Georges Seurat who painted the famous “Une Baignade a`Asnieres”
Living amongst the local, ethnic communities I was able to breathe in the essence of life and culture of Paris. Time was spent strolling through the museums, Louvre, D’orsay and the Pompidou, and the not so touristy areas, to network with the artists & galleries to see what their local artists were up to. I observed the spirit of the “French Café” noticing much of it remains as, it was in the earlier days with its red districts, brothels and porno joints, all still colorfully alive.
I explored areas like Mont Martre and places where legendary artists and writers once frequented. Where art movements, such as, Dadaism, Impressionism and Surrealism were argued and created. I loaded myself with camera, video, paintbrush and rubbish bags and explored underground spaces, surfaces, corners, crevices, signage, the Metro and Graffiti. I collected discarded, street litter and consumer packaging and bought it back to Australia to create with back in my studio.