Marie Lannoo
In Extremis
July 4 - October 13, 2024
As an abstract painter, Saskatoon-based Marie Lannoo has been applying layers of transparent acrylic colour on various support surfaces for more than three decades. Well-known as a conceptually groundbreaking non-objective painter, Lannoo is one of the few artists informed by a substantial knowledge base in both art and science to investigate light as the basis for her colour field paintings.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Lannoo returned to canvas as a support surface for the first time in 25 years with a tremendous level of freedom. She never predicted that a global pandemic and lockdown would open the creative floodgates to produce 36 of the most resonant works of her career. The resulting series of paintings in this touring solo exhibition facilitate a remarkably intimate level of experiential contact with the viewer.
Lannoo's decision-making in the studio became entirely intuitive with an unfiltered, direct connection to the painting process. It is difficult to describe this unique period of creative engagement other than in Lannoo’s own words: “In Extremis is an apt title for a body of work and a dedicated book that extends the illusive studio experience of the paintings. The studio was where I made the most profound connection with my materials and with my artistic self to embody the feelings of that connection in the work. When I was in this place of deep connection and feeling, time dissolved and slipped away. I also wanted to extend the connection to realize an innovative publication, to reproduce the true essence of my paintings in print media.”
Lannoo has achieved what many painters strive for throughout their careers, that is, the controlled application of layers of colour that vibrate, pulsate, resonate, and radiate the energy of colour to create sensations of experience in the viewer. Light interacts with Lannoo’s skillfully rendered layers of transparent acrylic to change its luminosity. As the layers interact, the overall illumination of the colours is revealed. Lannoo’s skill in achieving an unparalleled luminosity and complexity in painting is the focus of In Extremis.
--- Wayne Baerwaldt, Guest Curator
“Marie Lannoo’s recent paintings have a surprising and refreshingly singular quality of light. A consistent illumination that occurs deep within the picture plane and creates a wonderful resonance of circumstance. On careful reflection it gives the viewer an opportunity to experience many things, even broader understandings of communal presence. It puts on view how collective memory ascends from ideas that can then be animated using the gift and exchange of painted light.” --- Jerry Allen
“As I gaze at one of Marie Lannoo’s recent works on canvas, I first become aware of the blank, sometimes coloured centre that is surrounded by vague, blurry coloured borders and then immediately surrounded by sharp edged borders and then a black physical frame. What I really appreciate about this is that I have been informed in this process of observing, that this use of the various framing devices forming a portal, is a deliberate strategy, and yet I am free to return to the centre which had no agenda. This phenomenon is possibly my most valued but rarely happened upon art experience, Agnes Martin, Mark Rothko and now, Marie Lannoo.” --- Chris Cran RCA
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About the Artist
Marie Lannoo
Marie Lannoo was born in Delhi, Ontario. She attended the University of Saskatchewan and studied painting at the Banff School of Arts and at Emma Lake Artists’ Workshops as well as in Virton, Belgium. Her work has been shown in exhibitions throughout Canada and internationally.
Moving between abstraction and representation, Lannoo’s paintings exert a potent physiological effect on viewers. Imminent art historian Roald Nasgaard comments: “Lannoo’s work draws the viewer deep into internal illusions replete with reflected invasions from the external world. At the same time, it reaches out to embrace and enfold itself around the body of the viewer, who sees the world as if with eyes in the back of his/her/their head.”
About the Curator
Wayne Baerwaldt
Wayne Baerwaldt has curated a wide range of exhibitions and events including Pierre Molinier, The Royal Art Lodge: Ask the Dust, Adam Pendleton: BAND, Gabriela Garcia-Luna, Paul P: Something Cloudy, Something Clear, and If I May Digress: Richard Boulet and Collaborators, among others. He has contributed articles and essays to Art&Text, Border Crossings, Parkett, Art on Paper, TIME, Guia des Artes, Poliester, Inuit Quarterly, Art Paper, and numerous catalogues.
