The “Falling” series is an exploration into the nature of falling, gravity, and impact. In 2012, Barbara’s father fell down the front steps of her house and landed in the road. He nearly died and was permanently disabled after. The tragedy affected Barbara profoundly. She relives her father’s fall over and over again in numerous flashbacks. “It’s like a stop motion film in slow motion: him starting to fall, trying to find something to hold onto, him in mid air, raising himself up in a desperate attempt to defy gravity and fly, him hitting the tarmac, and many in between. There was a curious grace to the fall, and a timeless quality, which belied the horror.” Barbara Gowan
The emotional trauma of the incident became conflated with the physics of falling in the artist’s mind. She became interested in the fact that we are all falling, and that only the earth is stopping us from falling any further. The work made in this series is highly experimental and complex emotions play out in the paintings, ceramic and digital art pieces.
“Suspended in mid air”, limited edition giclee print from an iPad painting, 1/50. Prints available.
