Jude makes contemporary mosaics using modern and traditional methods. Mosaic has a strong history, but she feel it has so far been under-represented in the realm of contemporary art.
“I first encountered mosaic in an historical context and was motivated to study its development through history. Initially I used mosaic to decorate objects, but then realised mosaic deserves to be appreciated as a piece of art in its own right and I began making contemporary wall panels – painting with ceramic.” [Jude Freeman}
Jude is mainly self-taught and has developed her own totally unique style. She does not use grout and the tesserae are placed closely together. This gives a textural surface, unusual for mosaic, making her work innovative and individual.
Jude’s work ranges from abstract, graphic pieces exploring colour, texture and line, to reconstructed land and seascapes. She uses Venetian glass smalti, ceramic, stone and marble, gold, silver and bronze leaf, mirror, pyrite, paua shell, vintage china and Japanese porcelain. She also paints and makes her own ceramic tiles. Jude also works with materials collected on her extensive travels or Italy, where she spends part of the year.
She draws on her travels for inspiration creating well balanced mosaics that look wonderful from afar and draw the viewer in by revealing ever more detail the closer one gets. Her use of vintage china often reveals small figures and scenes in her mosaics close up. Always detailed her work has great depth and quality.
“Inspired by travel and colour, I often capture the essence of a place within my mosaics. In some this expression is purely abstract exploring colour, texture and line, while in others it manifests as a narrative Japanese scene or reconstructed land, sea or cityscape. I take much inspiration from time spent in Italy; the colour and texture of its stone, the depth of turquoise in the Mediterranean and the extreme beauty of its cities.” [Jude Freeman]
The mount is integral to the piece. Perspex bolted at the corners creates a clean, modern look. Some mosaics appear like museum exhibits, mounted this way – an interesting combination of history and contemporary art.
Jude is a well established mosaic artist and widely exhibited and collected. She is a member of the Devon Guild of Craftsmen.
The exhibition “Exotic Places and Italian Seas” will run at 45 Southside from 21st April – 25th May 2011. Jude will be at 45 Southside on Sunday 24th April from 3pm. All are welcome for a chance to meet Jude and enjoy some refreshments.
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Contact: Kirsten Kruse e-mail: arts@45southside.co.uk, phone 07793209616
