Parterre

1. a level space in a garden occupied by an ornamental arrangement of flower beds.
   

2. the area of the ground floor of a theatre auditorium behind the orchestra pit, especially the section beneath the balconies.

Parterre presents a new body of work by Jonathan Murphy, including paintings on paper and canvas, ceramic tablets and collage. The exhibition’s title is a reflection of the artist’s approach to making and the arrangement of his work as on open-ground for thinking, research and exploration. Many of the works are also inspired by plant life and outdoor spaces.

On the ground floor we encounter paintings on varying scales that feature motifs integral to Murphy’s practice; akin to a gardener digging through the grounds, he smudges, blends, cuts, and combs to reveal layers of growth and bifurcation. Through painting, Murphy discovers the germ of an idea – whether this be a colour combination, pencil line or texture – and uses this as the catalyst for a kaleidoscopic ray of starts and outcomes.

Downstairs is a series of works on paper that feature minimal compositions with bold, dynamic mark making. These were made quickly – sheets of paper laid out on the floor were worked over in a single sitting without a preconceived idea of the final result. Like plants trimmed to make space for their neighbours’ shoots to grow, this process allows individual works to inform each other, giving rise to encroaching figures and comic figuration.

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Parterre sees Jonathan Murphy investigate how form, space and structure can open up new dialogues within a painting practice. Exploring representation and the space between recognition and repetition, the act of making becomes a testing ground for asking questions and exploring new ideas.