Jesse Jane and the art of exploring shapes

At the age of 7, scribbles and drawings announced a hand born for paintings. Samate Mulungo opened her the door to a world of lively colors intended to make you think. Jesse Jane already has two solo exhibitions – ‘Mares’ (Seas) and ‘‘Fragments of the Past’’ – and several group exhibitions. Always in constant metamorphosis, proposing new forms, like someone exploring the always porous borders of art.

When did Jessina Jane start being Jesse Jane?

After discovering that she wanted painting as a profession. Right at the beginning, in the first frames on the screen. Before, she only painted and drew on sheets.

Sometimes they are brushes. Others, everyday elements such as nails/screws that make up a painting. Does this mean searching for a style?

For me, art is vast. We can use all the instruments we have around. And that’s what makes art limitless. Discovering new techniques, new ways of making art is one of the artist’s missions.

Is the abstract, which seems to be what you explore most, a way to escape and make others escape from concrete reality?

The abstract is a way of trying to open a door to the imagination of those who see my artwork. It’s meant to open up a greater space of interpretation for those who see it. Automatically, it creates a feeling of discovering something.

In the collective exhibition ‘‘Regresso’’ (Comeback), which is on view in the X-hub gallery, your works seem to explore patterns, several in the same painting.

I discover with each painting that it is possible to mix several techniques in an artwork, after all, art is not limited. And that’s the path I took for the exhibition.

I sense in you an obsession with geometry. Even when you paint human figures. Where does this obsession come from?

I always liked geometry. My first works on paper were geometric shapes. I get a lot of inspiration from what I have around me. Everything around us is geometry, there is no way not to have it as a reference.

You are often invited to paint live. What is it like to show the birth of an artwork?

The live paintings were my own idea. In addition to being one of the ramifications of artistic activity, it is also a connection between me and the public who have the opportunity to see my creative process, this great curiosity for those who don’t work with art.

Is ‘‘The Arts and Scents Hub’’, which you founded in 2021, a way of democratizing access to art?

It’s a form of independence, it was a space where we sold ourselves the art we create. It is very important when artists come together for a single purpose, to make art and show that it is possible to fight for it and for Mozambican culture. And the most important thing is that we have incredible artists, you can’t go wrong.

Edição 82 JAN/FEV| Download.