“`S ann à Peairt an Astràilia-an-Iar a tha mi bho thùs, ach tha mi a fuireach an Alba. A thuilleadh air a bhith nam neach-ealain faicsinneach, tha mi a sgrìobhadh agus a cluich ceòl.
“Dhòmhsa, saoilidh mi gur e a bhith ag innse sgeulachdan ann an cruth air choireigin a tha aig bun mo dhòigh-obrach, agus bidh mi a faighinn dùsgadh-inntinn air leth bho charactaran ann an fionn-sgeul agus seanachas.
“Bho mo chuimhne agus m’ fhèin-eòlais, tha mi a’ sireadh chreutairean a-mach à fionn-sgeul, diathan an t-saoghal iochdrach, agus na pearsaichean neònach a bhios a còmhnaidh ann an seòmraichean thar tomhais fo chabar taigh nam bruadaran. Tha mi a’ feuchainn ris an t-saoghal a-staigh annam a chur an cèill tro dhealbhan, peantadh, fighe, seinn òrain, sgrìobhadh agus cluiche ionnstramaidean
“Thòisich caractaran madaidhean-allaidh a nochdadh nam obair bho chionn beagan bhliadhnaichean nuair a bha mi a’ lorg dòigh ùr, nas saoire air a bhith dealbhachadh. Thoisich mi air deuchainnean le dòighean a shealladh ar n-ìomhaighean dìomhair agus na miannan a tha taisgte annainn. Madaidhean-allaidh a tha na màthraichean, feadhainn ann an gaol agus feadhainn mar fhaileas. Tha iad aig an aon àm, còir, socharach, borb agus làn cianalais.”
– Jessica Danz
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“Originally from Perth, Western Australia, I currently live in Scotland. As well as working as a visual artist, I’m also a performer and composer.
“I consider storytelling in one shape or another to be the foundation of my creative practice, and I draw a great deal of inspiration from the archetypal characters of myth and folktale.
“Navigating by memory and instinct, I’m searching for mythical creatures, chthonic beings, and all the other strange folk who wander the infinite rooms in the house of dreams. Through drawing, painting, stitching, song-making, writing and performance I attempt to make varied maps of these inner worlds.
“Wolf characters started to appear in my work several years ago as I was searching for a new, freer approach to drawing. I began to experiment with ways of depicting our secret personas, alter egos and hidden desires. Wolf mothers, wolves in love and shadow wolves, they are simultaneously kind, shy, fierce and full of longing.”
– Jessica Danz
Jessica Danz’s exhibition Wolves/Madaidhean-Allaidh runs in An Lanntair’s Cafe Bar gallery until January 30, 2021.