The Lido Stores present Metamorphosis, a solo exhibition of paintings by Margate-based artist Jennifer Hooper

The Lido Stores will present Metamorphosis, a solo exhibition of paintings by Margate based artist Jennifer Hooper.

Painting in both oil and watercolours, Jennifer draws on her experience during residencies and visits to Mexico to explore our delicate yet powerful relationship with the natural world.

In 2016 she travelled to the Oyamel fir forests in the state of Michoacán to study the Monarch butterfly which overwinters in this unique habitat. Only 2% of the original forest now remains due to the earth’s temperature warming and that is increasingly so, as a result of climate change.

Jennifer reflects on her experience: “Ascending steeply through verdant forest, the thick scent of horse and pine fills the crisp morning air as the sun rapidly warms it.

“Lungs expanding, climbing higher towards 3000 metres the butterflies begin to appear. Not many at first, a few, fluttering and wafting past. Then more begin to criss-cross the sky, I have never seen so many butterflies of the same species. Higher still. At the summit of Cerro Pelon as I approach the tall trees where the colony is, the atmosphere changes.

“Holding my breath I tread carefully as if entering a sacred and ancient tomb. Thousands and thousands of delicate bodies cluster together, nestled in the pine needles, appearing to be leaves from a new species of tree - tiny hanging statues. Looking down, the soft moss floor is a carpet of bodies, like fallen autumn leaves, a forest catacomb.”

Jennifer’s paintings are highly detailed and technical, with lifelike realism. The works in Metamorphosis are reminiscent of romantic 19th century naturalist paintings and species collections. The 19th century was an age of considerable social change and rapid industrial and scientific advancement. Factors that are known to be major catalysts for the current Anthropocene Epoch: an age in which human activity dramatically affects the world’s climate and ecosystems.

The exhibition Metamorphosis presents us with a double edge of meaning. On one hand, it can simply refer to the stage in the life cycle of all Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths) whereby they undergo a transformation from humble larvae to the most stunning examples of Nature’s own pallet. On the other, it is a reminder that the two industrial revolutions, that so excited their contemporaries and bookmarked the 19th century, were a Pandora’s box. The content of which we are still, regrettably, unpacking.

Metamorphosis is then a commentary on the transformation of perspectives of our own interaction with and impact on the natural world. The rare beauties captured, killed and pinned to boards by naturists two centuries ago are now the rarer still fragile connections to a world in peril that we must all fight to protect.

About Jennifer Hooper

Jennifer has a BA (Hons) in Fine Art Painting at Camberwell College of Art (2004) and has undertaken courses in contemporary figure painting at the Royal Drawing School (2016) and anatomy at the University College London.

Her work has been shown nationally and internationally including exhibitions by The Royal Society of British Marine Artists and the Royal Geographical Society and ONCA (a Brighton-based arts charity that bridges environmental and social issues with creativity).

METAMORPHOSIS

An exhibition of work by Jennifer Hooper

The Lido Stores, Margate

Wednesday 6 April - Sunday 24 April 2022

Private view, Friday 8 April, 6.00-8.00pm