Next Artist......

GERALDINE COX

Geraldine Cox was born and lives in the UK. Originally trained in physics, Cox jumped ship and has dedicated herself to her artistic practice. In many ways it was her painting "Duality', finalist in the MK Fringe 2009 painting prize that germinated the seed of an idea I had for Beyond Ourselves. Within it, there was a palpable understanding and acknowledgement of the fallibility of the scientific process. When scientists embark on a journey, they do not have answers; inherent to the quest is an acceptance that the process of experimenation has unexpected outcomes.

What marked the piece out as special was her spare but particular mark making, almost sketching out the possibilities open with the scientific process. Cox, has since gone on to produce a new series of work that takes physics, but more importantly the creativity within investigation and exploration as its inspiration. The visual language she employs articulately communicates the respect, pleasure moreover the love she has for this subject. Looking at her work one sees her intimate relationship with her subject matter played out and her keen desire to understand what she sees as similarities between the world of the artist and that of scientists. A painting such as 'All Matter is the Same' is an articulate sonata to the ingenuity and creativity of the scientists she studies. Cox paints with loose yet perfectly defined marks that use a particular palette appropriate to each paintings inspiration. Another device that Cox employs is the split canvas which further underpins the idea that there can be an important leap in thinking, beyond the obvious and the predictable when physicists work.

Unlike other artists, Cox's work is uniquely interested in the origin of intellectual thought, particularly when applied to these topics. Her paintings are imbued with the awe and respect that accompanies understanding. It could be argued that Cox, is almost operating as the antithesis to the sci-art practitioners that use topical media concerns to demonstrate science’s mantle as chief global problem solver. Her understanding and subsequent work is more profound and eloquent, Cox has found a powerful and unique expression for the wonder of our world, explaining that so much of the physical laws and constants that surrounds us are increasingly found to be simple and beautiful.

Ingrid Hinton 2010