Zari Gallery - Jo Dixon Catalogue 2024

SPIRIT OF INDIA

Jo Dixon

JO

I am delighted to introduce this exhibition of Jo Dixon’s beautiful paintings, “Spirit of India”.

Once again, Jo has created an incredibly evocative collection of artworks that remind us all of the magic of India and her people. I very much hope that you will enjoy exploring these exquisite pictures and will find yourselves transported on an exhilarating journey across this very special country.

Spirit of India

Jo Dixon returns to Zari Gallery, London, with her captivating new exhibition, “Spirit of India,” a profound continuation of her artistic exploration into the heart of India. This collection unveils a fresh series of paintings inspired by her further travels across this enchanting land, alongside a dedicated team including her husband, a GP, and fellow medical practitioners. Their mission to delve deeper into the integration of complementary medicine within Western practices has broadened, reflecting a growing commitment to blending the best of both worlds, a vision championed by then HRH The Prince of Wales, now King Charles.

This exhibition builds upon the foundation laid during their initial journeys. This time, the adventures extend to new regions and communities, uncovering the vibrant tapestry of Indian life and its rich traditions. Jo’s engagement with the local people, facilitated by her unique access and connections, continues to offer a rare glimpse into the intimate and everyday moments that define the spirit of India.

The artworks presented in “Spirit of India” transcend mere visual representation, inviting viewers into a dialogue with the soul of the country. Jo’s paintings capture the enduring grace and spirituality of India’s people and landscapes, portraying scenes that, while they may seem unchanged by time, pulse with the vitality and dynamism of the present. Through her eyes, we encounter a society that, although may appear materially modest by Western standards, is imbued with a dignity, beauty, and mysticism that is both timeless and deeply moving.

“Spirit of India” promises to be a journey not just through the diverse and colorful realms of India but also into the depths of human resilience, spirituality, and the universal quest for harmony between tradition and progress.

Joanna (Jo) Dixon

Jo Dixon, the fourth daughter of a country vicar, has dreamed of becoming an artist since she was five. Despite her father’s view that it was not a suitable career for a young lady, Jo’s determination never wavered. She secretly applied and was accepted to the Hammersmith College of Art, a notable institution for maintaining its life drawing school amidst an era dominated by abstract expressionism in the London art scene. For Jo, drawing has always been a crucial foundation of her work.

After completing her education, Jo embarked on a teaching career. She later married a Devon GP and devoted much of her time to her family, raising three children and supporting her husband’s medical practice. This intense family and work commitment period led to a decade-long hiatus from painting, but her passion for art remained undiminished.

Eventually, Jo resumed painting, focusing initially on portraits of local children. This led to her first local exhibition and a solo exhibition in 1994 at St John’s, Smith Square, London. From there, her career flourished with numerous exhibitions and accolades, including elected a South West Academician in 2005 and a Member of the Society of Women Artists in 2009. Her contributions to art are recognized in David Buckman’s “Dictionary of Artists in Britain since 1945.”

Today, Jo Dixon is celebrated as a preeminent figurative artist. Following her successful debut London exhibition, “An Indian Journey,” at the Zari Gallery in 2021, we are now honoured to present her second exhibition, “Spirit of India,” in 2024. This new exhibition continues to explore her fascination with India, showcasing a series of works that capture the essence and vibrant spirit of the country. Through her unique lens, Jo invites us to journey with her once again, offering an intimate glimpse into India’s diverse and dynamic culture.

Paintings

Among Monkeys in the Indian Forest, 2023 Oil on canvas, 77 x 92 cm

Choosing Fish in the Fish Market, Pondicherry, 2023

Oil on canvas, 30 x 30 cm

Cows eating Street Food, Delhi, 2023

Oil on canvas, 30 x 30 cm

Deer in the forest, Ooty, 2023

Oil on canvas, 60 x 75 cm

Early Morning, The Taj Mahal, Agra, 2023 Oil on canvas, 51 x 50.5 cm

Fishing Boat, Lake Vembanad, 2023

Oil on panel, 45 x 60 cm

Fishing Boats at Dusk, Lake Vembanad,

2023

Oil on canvas, 50 x 75.5 cm

Flight of Fancy, 2023

Oil on canvas, 77 x 101 cm

Flypast

Great White Indian Egrets, 2023 Oil on canvas, 77 x 92 cm

of

Gathering black clams from the bottom of Lake Vembanad, 2023

Oil on canvas, 45.5 x 60.5 cm

Hindu Deities Puppet Show, Rajasthan, 2023

Oil on canvas, 77 x 92 cm

Indian Classical Dancer, Kerala, 2023

Oil on canvas, 50 x 30 cm

Leopard resting high up in the Indian forest, Tamil Nadu, 2023 Oil on canvas, 60 x 75 cm

Lilies 1, 2023

Oil on canvas, 61 x 61 cm

Lobster Claw Flowers, 2023

Oil on canvas, 76 x 61 cm

Bird of Paradise Flowers, 2023 Oil on canvas, 76 x 61 cm

Oil on canvas, 30 x 30 cm

Preparing Bananas in the Fruit Market, Pondicherry, 2023

Roadside Meditation Foothills of the Himalayas, 2023

Oil on canvas, 77 x 92 cm

Oil

Sitting in the Midday Sun, Agra, 2023

on canvas, 30 x 30 cm

Temple Priest, Palampur, 2023

Oil on canvas, 32 x 38 cm

The Backwaters of Kerala, 2023

Oil on canvas, 51 x 51 cm

The Lawnmower Lamb, 2023

Oil on canvas, 48 x 48 cm

The Seller of Eggs, Pondicherry, 2023

Oil on canvas, 30 x 30 cm

Time out at the Temple of Shiva, 2023 Oil on canvas, 30 x 30 cm

Waterlilies in the backwaters of Kerala, 2023

Oil on canvas, 77 x 92 cm

White Indian Egret, 2023 Oil on canvas, 60 x 42 cm

Woman and Tiger in Harmony with Nature, 2023

Oil on board, 77 x 92 cm

Peacock, the symbol of India, 2023 Oil on canvas, 60 x 75 cm

Sketches

Elderly man wrapped up against the cold, 2023

Charcoal, 39 x 28 cm

Hindu Holy Man, 2023 Charcoal, 37 x 30.5 cm

Man and his camel, Bijaipur, 2023

Charcoal, 49.5 x 37 cm

The Supplicant, 2023

Charcoal, 57 x 34 cm

Veiled woman in her mother-in-law’s village 2023

Charcoal, 34.5 x 25.5 cm

Village elder drinking chai, 2023

Conté, 27 x 30 cm

Woman carrying pots, 2023 Charcoal, 47.5 x 33 cm

Young woman standing, 2023

Charcole, 50.5 x 34 cm