By Phien O’Phien
The Margate-based artist Jo-Ann Doherty previewed her show at the Joseph Wales Gallery Margate this month.
The show was dedicated to her late partner, Marc Isted, who worked in the music industry.
Within the artist’s 20 pieces, she predominantly uses herself as the model to convey the poignant subject of grief, loss, anger, and cathartic acceptance of death and that life painfully goes on.
Her pieces have intriguing titles, some more quickly recognised via the backstory of the work, such as ‘Lost Valentine—Let the Battle Commence—Immortal,” and others less so, “The Guardian—Project Ya Neck—Call it What You Like.”
The whole work seems to be ongoing levels of dealing with the loss of a partner and the reality that life still has to be catered for, even during periods of extreme grief.
Ms. Doherty’s depictions of hands and eyes in her work convey this sadness and are very expressive as both strive to dominate the scenes of the painting.
The opening night was well attended, with locals and people from London viewing the work.
The show is next scheduled to be shown in Soho. Ms. Doherty’s works are well worth a view when next they are in Thanet.
Phien O’Phien is a Margate-based artist, singer and a poet who uses the arts as a platform to campaign against discrimination, including that of race, sexuality or disability.
This is rather good.