Jaclyn Conley: Castles in the Air

In her new body of work, Jaclyn Conley stages visions of life in landscape which fuse the sense of intimacy and vastness. Known for her masterful portrayals of the figure, the artist here bends the depth and scale in the composition, giving the setting comparable deliberation and prominence. In each painting, Conley layers references to iconic images from art history with archival photographs documenting back-to-the-land movement of the 1960s and 70s in America, to consider the notion of social progress, and possibilities of turning to the landscape as a strategy of resistance.

Influenced by the writings of Henry David Thoreau, back-to-the-land movement garnered particular momentum in the late 1960s in Vermont, against the backdrop of ongoing Vietnam War, escalating consumerism and perceived urban deterioration. Striving for self-sufficiency and independence from the corporate system, numerous enthusiasts of the movement sought a refuge in the land, leaving behind extensive accounts and photographs of communal life at the time. Unearthing the histories of the movement from relative invisibility, Conley ponders the efficacy of individual ambitions for a different way of life. She explains, “the early protests for environmental causes and movements towards autonomy were not going to be an easy or necessarily rational path, and yet, at least from our vantage point, it seems like there was the courage to do it anyway. I think it could be useful today to have that humility to strive for big things, even though they seem very unlikely.” Referencing a quote from Thoreau’s landmark treatise Walden, the title of the exhibition considers the import of following one’s earnest and even idealist beliefs.

Her solo exhibition with MARUANI MERCIER takes place September 5 to October 19th, 2024 at the Brussels gallery space.