Jonny Niesche
Jonny Niesche’s practice is grounded in an ongoing investigation of colour, perception, and the embodied experience of the viewer. Drawing inspiration from a diverse lineage that includes the sensuous formalism of Ellsworth Kelly, the transcendental light of James Turrell, and even the performative aesthetics of glam rock, Niesche constructs works that shimmer with a disorienting sense of presence and absence.
Working with materials such as polyester voile, mirror-finish Perspex, and powder-coated steel, Niesche builds surfaces that hover between object and image. The painting in this exhibition exemplifies his technique: a field of vibrating colour diffuses outwards from a concentrated centre, softened by layers of semi-transparent fabric and heightened by the subtle play of reflection. These works are not static images, but dynamic encounters—dependent on the light in the room, the movement of the viewer, and the shifting play of shadows and reflections across the surface.
In this work, Niesche invites the viewer into a contemplative space where colour feels both emotional and architectural. It’s an exercise in presence, in atmosphere, and in the ephemeral potential of painting to shape how we see and feel.
