Scots behind the window. Windows of Rye. 2019. J.Harms. Acrylic on paper. 29x39cm.
We are a week away from a vote that will undoubtedly change the United Kingdom. Whether or not it decides to stay in the E.U.
In the serie “Windows of Rye ” I used the decorated windows of that small town in Sussex to illustrate my reflections on Brexit. I didn’t visit Rye with that particular idea in mind. The windows spoke for themselves…rather loudly too.
The Brexit mermaid. Windows of Rye. 2019. J.Harms. Acrylic on paper. 62×48 cm.
The Windows of Rye paintings are a reflection on Brexit. The term « reflection » is to be taken both literally and figuratively. Brexit was to happen in March of this year, but has been moved back to the end of this month. Will it happen or not ? I think nobody has a clue.
In Greek mythology, any creature that is part female, part something else, is not a good omen. Such creatures will most of the time lead you to your death. If you look at them straight in the eye you will turn to stone, if you give the wrong answer to their question, they will devour you, if you listen to their song you may end up mad and drown yourself. I wonder what this one will end up doing to Europe and the UK.
The Gate . 2019. J.Harms. Acrylic on canvas. 22x27cm.
Taking a small break from my « Windows of Rye Serie ».
There are two parts to Rye, the one built within the fortifications, the more historical side, with its church, castle and cemetery, and the one built outside of the fortifications, the more contemporary side, with its supermarket and train station.
The ultimate purpose of a door, I believe, is to warn of a coming change. Those that decide to walk through the door, are somehow informed that their perspective is going to change.
If one crosses a door and then turns around, their grasp of a place, might totally differ from what they previously thought they knew. They might find themselves in an other reality.
The yellow window. 2019. J.Harms. Acrylic on Canvas 46x55cm
Another « window of Rye » and behind it, a glorious shade of yellow, it simply caught my eye, as well as the tree that looks as if it’s embracing or protecting this fragile source of light.
This house looks joyful and warm, even though it sits right outside of the cemetery.
Two point of views. Windows of Rye. 2019. J.Harms. Acrylic on canvas. 38×46 cm.
This is the second painting from the Windows of Rye serie. Earlier this year, a couple of weeks before the first Brexit-date was suppose to take place, I visited the medieval city of Rye in the South of England, not far from Hastings. At first, I was interested in painting the different layers of the city. I spent quite a lot of time taking pictures of the streets from all sorts of angles. It was on the third and last day of my visit that I realised that the windows had a story to tell.
Although they belong to the same building, two windows show opposite views. There is also a back way for those ready to jump over the wall.
Boat behind the window. 2019. J.Harms. Acrylic on paper. 48x63cm.
I recently (re)-visited Rye in Sussex. At first I thought about painting a couple streetscapes, Tudor style buildings and all, but for some reason my eye was more interested in the decorated windows of the old city. I usually let a couple months go by before revisiting my pictures, but with “B” day coming up, I feel a sense of foreboding in the air. This particular window with the boat, turns out to be more than that. A boat is a strong symbol of freedom, but this one is stuck behind a window…
