Dec 26th, 2024 • 4 minute read
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Finding Stillness in Subtlety: Aislinn Janek’s Series of White Paintings
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In a world saturated with color and movement, Aislinn Janek’s latest series of white paintings stands as a refreshing exploration of restraint and introspection. Janek’s work invites us to pause, to see beyond the surface, and to discover a rich depth within simplicity. Each painting in her series captures themes of repetition, compartmentalization, and self-formation, using a minimalist palette that, at first glance, may seem subdued but rewards closer observation.
This series thrives on Janek’s careful approach, as her work “reaps the rewards of restraint.” By focusing on white and off-white tones, Janek minimizes distraction and emphasizes texture, material, and light. Each painting in her Petit series reveals an array of soft variations and gradients, created through layers of paint and thread, that evoke a quiet complexity. Through restraint, Janek creates space for viewers to engage deeply with each subtle shift in her work, allowing texture and light to evoke emotion. The result is an experience that is both grounding and ethereal, with each piece offering new details as the viewer lingers.
In embracing this pared-down aesthetic, Janek demonstrates how powerful simplicity can be. Each element on her canvases—a ridge of paint here, a stitched thread there—carries significance. By reducing the number of visual cues, she allows each detail to take on greater meaning, underscoring her belief in the power of minimalism to communicate complex ideas.
Landscape as a Form of Knowledge
Janek’s work often explores “landscape as a form of knowledge.” Here, the landscapes she captures are not the traditional vistas of mountains or fields but rather internal geographies—mental and emotional landscapes shaped by memories, habits, and routines. By using white as her dominant color, she creates a reflective surface that asks viewers to look inward, to think about the ways in which their own habits have formed their identities.
This approach reflects Janek’s interest in how landscapes, both external and internal, inform our understanding of ourselves and the world around us. Each piece in this series becomes a personal map, marking emotional or mental spaces defined by routine. In her art, Janek presents landscape not as a static scene but as a site of constant evolution, shaped and reshaped by the actions and thoughts that occupy our daily lives.
The Role of Repetition and Compartmentalization
Repetition is an essential aspect of Janek’s artistic practice, woven through this series as a means of representing the habits and rituals that define our lives. Her paintings echo the rhythm of daily life, with each stroke and texture variation standing as a visual reminder of routines that shape who we are. This rhythm creates a continuity in her work, connecting individual pieces into a unified whole, much like the daily patterns that connect and define our experiences.
Janek also employs the concept of compartmentalization to great effect. Just as we divide aspects of our inner lives—thoughts, emotions, memories—her work breaks the canvas into segments, with each area expressing a unique quality or technique. This division mimics the ways we compartmentalize aspects of ourselves in order to process or contain life’s complexities, building a kind of inner architecture within each of us.
The Influence of Travel and Cultural Landscapes
Janek’s travels have profoundly shaped her view of art and landscape, providing inspiration and insight that manifest in her work. Her journeys, whether across the vast mountain ranges of the American West or the lively streets of European cities, have deepened her appreciation for minimalism as well as for the landscapes we carry within us. This global perspective infuses her work, bridging cultural landscapes with the inner worlds she explores on canvas.
Janek’s travel experiences illuminate her belief in landscape as a form of personal and collective knowledge. Every place she encounters leaves an imprint, adding to the inner “maps” she builds within her work. Each canvas reflects these accumulated experiences, offering viewers a sense of connection to landscapes both known and unknown.
An Invitation to Reflect
Janek’s work invites viewers to slow down, to engage in a kind of visual meditation. Her paintings are spaces for quiet introspection, where the viewer can confront the often-overlooked aspects of their own lives. By focusing on repetition, rumination, and compartmentalization, Janek’s paintings offer a mirror, reflecting the habits, boundaries, and mental landscapes that define us.
In her Petit series, Janek redefines minimalism, creating a thoughtful, meditative space that encourages viewers to appreciate subtlety and self-reflection. Her works act as reminders that art, like life, can be deeply meaningful without being loud or complex. Through careful attention to detail, her paintings convey that often, the most profound truths lie in the quietest moments.
For those who are interested in experiencing her work in person, Janek will be part of a group exhibition at Van der Plas Gallery at 156 Orchard Street in New York City from December 12th-29th. This is a wonderful opportunity to immerse yourself in her reflective landscapes and to experience the quiet power of studio practice firsthand.
Virtual installations courtesy of ArtPlacer