Nicola Jackson, Anne Pincus

Press, 6 February 1986, Page 19

Nicola Jackson, Anne Pincus

Works by Nicola Jackson and Anne Pincus at tbe James Paul Gallery until February 8. Reviewed by John Hurrell. In this exhibition the gallery is divided in half, with two quite uncon* nected exhibitions presented side by side. Nicola Jackson’s selection is vividly coloured, glossy objects made of papier-mache. Some are masks based on fish or pantomime faces but the most conspicuous works are a suite of seven selfportraits. These self-portraits humorouslyelaborate on the theme of dualism, particularly on the discrepancies between the activities of the mind, and the physical manifestations of the body that encases it What initially appears to be symbolic seems actually to be a tongue-in-cheek espousal of a naive form of materialism. One work illustrates the artist with a shaven head. Her skull is divided up partly according to the tenets of phrenology where bumps on the head are clues to an individual’s personality, and partly to an analysis of the functions of different portions of the brain.

Most of Nicola Jackson’s paintings though, show the heart as the organ which controls the emotions, and the brain as the organ of intellect The artist seems fascinated with the way our body works, and how it is linked through folk-lore to mental states.

Homosaplen’s link in the animal kingdom is emphasised by the colourful slugs, snakes, and anemones depicted on the frames. They refer to the inner workings of human bodies as well as the outer world of nature, and add philosophical complexity by suggesting that the body is a universe of its own.

Nicola Jackson’s exhibition is the best show of paintings that Christchurch has seen for many years. Although the paintings are weakened by the distracting presence of the masks and paper rain hanging from the ceiling, their use of nuance and illusion make this exhibition a remarkable start for the year at the James Paul Gallery. Showing with the Jackson works is a display of collages and charcoal drawings by Anne Pincus. Nicola Jackson’s work can be seen as

about the interior and mental states within the body, while Anne Pincus’s collages can be seen as about an exterior work, looking at the world beyond the body. The Pincus collages are related to the works developed by Kurt Schwitters in the 19205. Her materials indicate a romantic fascination with detritus from faraway countries, as the

works are made of postage stamps, tickets, postcards, magazines, and paper money. They have a delicate softness which provides a restrained foil to the uninhibited Jackson hues. The charcoal drawings of the abstracted female figure are more distinctive than her collages, yet both seem art-school-ish and academic. The organic branch-like

shapes in her drawings form flickering rhythms and look as if they may lead to interesting developments in the future. Nicola Jackson’s selfportraits establish her as the most important new talent to be seen in Christchurch for some time. Hopefully her amusing and sophisticated work will attract a large audience.