About

ARTIST STATEMENT

Contemporary South African visual artist.

I seek to bring awareness towards our generational perspectives, thought patterns, geographical socio-political influences and our collective responsibility in nurturing the co-existence of humankind within the natural world.

Jessica Michelle Le Roux is a South African sculptor and interdisciplinary artist whose practice queries preconceived worldviews, highlighting the butterfly effects consequences. In doing so, the artist seeks to bring awareness towards generational perspectives, set thought patterns, and the individuals role within our collective impact in society and on the earth in light of harmony and preservation. Le Roux often creates two-dimensional backdrops for three-dimensional works which cross-pollinate engagement intentions. The artist holds an enduring fascination with the definition of a matrix. The secondary pictures in her layered works often show how we would form if the details of the primary image would reform with greater coherence. Le Roux believes the interest is influenced by her South African post-apartheid upbringing and in being a part of the generation crossing over from books to countless digital knowledge bases. She describes her work as exploring the journey of knowledge and understanding through experiences by depicting scopes of realities, impressions and interactions through observations in the quiet spaces of the mind. Many of the artist's depictions deal with impressionistic representations of the archetypes of human emotion and existence. In addition, Le Roux's work seeks to reflect and engage with the formulations and shaping of worldviews by considering socio-political landscapes, geographics, past and present influences. Iconic of Le Roux's work is negative space, impressionistic expressions of emotion and the artist's interdisciplinary approach. Her work is known for atmospheric sceneries - created to invoke connection and reveal our footprints in the natural world. The artist crafts a relation with text as the entry point in her practice by embedding text within art, creating virtual layers or creating a window in the titles of her artworks.

Artistic background

Brief overview of the artist's roots

“I have always been intrigued by visual dialogue and the role art plays in society, which naturally directed my studies. I graduated in 2007 having obtained a BA at Tshwane University of technology. I was born in 1989 in Modimolle and have resided in Limpopo, Gauteng, The Western Cape, the Karoo and the Western Cape where my family currently lives. My career has been enabled through practicing as an artist, facilitating art, managing galleries and art consulting.”

Artistic MEDIA

Artistic background- interdisciplinary approach

Interdisciplinary: integrating methods and knowledge from different disciplines by utilising a genuine synthesis of approaches. I find the purpose of my practice often transcends in building up layers of combined media processes within bodies of work. For example, digital montage is developed from originals and selective mixed media materials are utilised in originals. In addition, I often embellish ceramic work with non-traditional materials and make use of unusual patinas in bronzes. Ultimately, I create two-dimensional backdrops for my three-dimensional work, allowing me to shape environments and immerse a space with an experience through interactions, technology and installations.

What I do

The process of interdisciplinary art making enables my practice. The following are the themes and media which enable my practice.

Figurative Sculpture

Many of my depictions deal with trying to represent archetypes of human emotion and existence, reflecting on the ‘worldview’ by considering our surrounds, influences and the patterns we instil within society and our environments. Much of my work is created within a calculated relation between two-dimensional and three-dimensional facets. I have an enduring fascination with the definition of a matrix. The secondary pictures in my layered works often show how we would form if the details of the primary image would reform with greater coherence. In essence, my work explores the journey of knowledge by depicting scopes of reality, observations and experiences in the quiet, thoughtful spaces of the mind.

Atmospheric Natural World

It is so interesting to hear of art as the brain often naturally wants to make sense of and identify with what is being viewed. Art withholds an uncanny ability to transport the mind to a different headspace. For me, impressions of the natural world enable this experience in a manner, unlike any other.

Digital Collage - Layering present with past

Also known as compositing. I work with details and textures documented in my original artworks, historical archives, clippings and bits and bobs horded over the years. In my practice, digital collage enables the conceptual framework to speak strongly, facets within each piece builds up like layers of memory triggers, nostalgia and a sense of a experience of a place is captured.