Mistral 1970

Tess Jaray's Mistral is a print of purple and lilac spears arranged in diagonal rows that create a rhythmic pattern. I imagine Jaray, like a composer, arranging the elements of her composition with precision and care. Each mark carefully considered in relation to the others, creating a sense of visual harmony and balance. I think she’s working out what the spears might mean, like tiny arrows in flight or pointing somewhere, maybe to the future. Do they form lines of force, drawing the eye into the distance, or perhaps they’re a kind of dance. The lilac against purple gives the work an almost dreamy quality, while the diagonal composition adds a sense of movement and energy. You can feel the artist thinking through colour and form, searching for something that is just out of reach but so real, so true. It makes me want to return to my studio and start painting!