BASCHA MON
Born on November 3, 1932, in Newark, New
Proust and Freud swiftly influenced a new
Jersey, Bascha Mon belongs to a generation
series of works. Mon’s work draws inspira-
of artists whose works are driven by the
tion from many of the movements of our
conditions that shape today’s world and in-
day, including minimalism, conceptual art,
spired by how we engage with its complex
land art, feminism and various combinations
issues, be they humanitarian, political – or
thereof. She has been creating art for more
just plain complicated. »I have taken up the
than 50 years – on and off, alongside bear-
old philosophical question of how daily life,
ing and rearing two sons! She has received
work, relationships affect us«, Mon told me.
grants from the New York Foundation of the
Within the tension of her chosen subject, her
Arts Relief Fund and was invited to a resi-
paintings and drawings conjure up an en-
dency at the Woodstock Byrdcliffe Guild in
dearing sense of vulnerability, strength and
Woodstock, New York. She studied at the
sensibility. As a child, she spent the sum-
Art Students League of New York and has
Bascha Mon's current body of work – apt-
mers at her grandparents' farm adjacent to
taught privately at various schools in New
ly entitled »New Land« – addresses diver-
a lake, and later summers were passed on
Jersey.
sity and the current state of humanity. Be-
the Jersey shores. Water and its reflections
ing surrounded by her art is an experience
thus play a major part in her paintings. The
Bascha, keep up the good work. And never
akin to being immersed in a vast energetic
Indonesian tsunami in 2004 brought forth
give up! See you this spring or summer in
field. On paper, every work starts at noth-
»Tsunami: Loss«. Then, in 2011, the intensity
Morristown!
ing, her pen or brush following a pattern that
of water had an even greater impact when
creates seemingly of its own will. Minimal
her own studio was destroyed by Hurricane
forms find voice in her work, which is clearly
Irene. A new studio precipitated a new dawn
inspired by a profound intuition about the
and fresh imagery, as Mon switched from
world around her.
encaustic wax to oil paints. Early studies of
BEING SURROUNDED BY BASCHA MON'S. ART IS LIKE BEING IMMERSED IN A VAST. ENERGETIC FIELD..
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VIEWS MAGAZINE