Jack Barrett Gallery is pleased to present Sound of the Bell Jar, a solo exhibition of new works by Danish painter Katrine Bobek, marking her inaugural show with the gallery.

In this latest series, Bobek delves into the subconscious to explore the boundaries of perception, crafting partly surreal scenes that evoke both the whimsical and the somber. Her keen observations of inner-self serve as the foundation for these works; dream-like visions animating the canvas with vibrant hues that resonate like a bell summoning us to the reverence of the body.

Drawing inspiration from theater, Bobek approaches the canvas as a stage in which narrative unfolds on the set of a landscape. Portraying life as performance, her paintings conjure vivid, emotionally charged worlds that explore themes of desire, disconnect, and innocence. Using symbolic imagery to further drive narrative, Bobek incorporates objects such as toy rocking horses, flowers, animals, crosses, and instruments, blending elements of childhood play, spirituality, myths, and folklore. These symbols contribute to her intricate scenographies of improbable beings in unusual settings, such as floating faces, suspended figures, and erupting landscapes of entwined brushstrokes.

Blending narrative with abstraction, Bobek’s paintings unfold as brief impromptu moments, and pay tribute to the work of the post-impressionist group Les Nabis, and artists such as Odilon Redon and Édouard Vuillard. In the work On the Hillside, Bobek references Edgar Degas's The Fallen Jockey (1866), reinterpreting the painting’s motif in her own style. By utilizing an impressionistic palette and pointillist style, Bobek infuses her paintings with energy and a sense of renewal, reminiscent of spring's unfolding buds. Her dry-brush technique then creates textured, scratchy strokes that impart a sense of lightness and transparency.

The title, Sound of the Bell Jar, reflects a feeling of disconnect and lack of belonging within contemporary society. Through these wondrous worlds, Bobek mediates an escape from the reality of a unified narrative, channeling an imaginary realm that challenges societal values and norms.

–Karen Vestergaard Andersen