“I like the constant challenge of oil painting. I like the technical challenges and working towards a way of painting which is purely instinctive and intuitive.”
From Legal Eagle to Artistic Alchemist
Growing up in the northern reaches of England, Gillian Holding’s early years were marked by a fervent desire to escape. Her journey led her through a prestigious legal career, becoming a partner at a major law firm while simultaneously raising four children. This backdrop of diverse professional and personal experiences significantly shapes her art. As a child of the ’60s who embraced the freedoms of the ’70s, Holding’s worldview was further sculpted by her time working in Paris and London during the ’80s and ’90s. However, it was the seismic events of 9/11, the banking crisis, and Brexit that profoundly reshaped her perspective, ultimately fueling her transition from law to art. These historical and personal upheavals serve as a rich tapestry, deeply influencing her artistic expressions and themes.
The pivotal moment that redirected Holding’s path was a life/work crisis. Although she had always nurtured a passion for drawing and painting, it was this crisis that propelled her to embrace art full-time. Initially, she found success in portrait commissions but soon realized the need to break free from external expectations. This led her back to academia, where she pursued a degree in fine art. It was during this period that she learned to embrace risk, failure, and uninhibited exploration. The process of unlearning post-graduation was crucial for her, as it allowed her to discover and cultivate her true artistic identity, uninfluenced by others’ perceptions.
Holding’s transition from law to art reflects her intrinsic need for creative freedom. Her early works were cautious, aiming to meet others’ expectations, but her academic pursuits and subsequent practice taught her to value spontaneity and intuition. This transformation underscores her belief in art as a medium of self-discovery and personal expression. Her legal background, coupled with her experiences of global events, enriches her artistic narrative, imbuing it with a sense of historical consciousness and personal reflection.
Gillian Holding: Embracing Uncertainty and the Unexpected
Holding’s artistic style is characterized by a vibrant interplay of color and line. Describing herself as a “painterly draughtsman,” she navigates the tension between structured mark-making and the organic flow of paint. This dynamic gives her work its unique distinctiveness, with some pieces emphasizing freeform paint application and others showcasing intricate drawing with paint. Her approach is unplanned, driven by her emotions in the moment, leading to diverse outcomes even within a single exhibition.
Central to Holding’s work is the theme of uncertainty and the unexpected. She believes that the unpredictable nature of her process mirrors the surreal contradictions of contemporary society. In a world dominated by post-truth narratives and conflicting realities, her art invites viewers to confront these paradoxes. The daily barrage of mediated “reality” through social and mainstream media creates a sense of alienation and fragility. Holding’s work, with its inherent dissonance, reflects these feelings, offering a visual commentary on the disorienting nature of modern existence.
Her exploration of these themes is not just confined to the canvas. Holding’s art is an invitation to consider the broader implications of living in a digitally mediated world. The surreal quality of her imagery challenges viewers to question the nature of reality and their place within it. This engagement with the unexpected and the uncertain is a core aspect of her artistic philosophy, making her work both thought-provoking and deeply resonant.
The Creative Sanctuary: Crafting the Ideal Workspace
For Holding, the physical space in which she creates is paramount. A large, well-lit studio allows her the freedom to work on expansive canvases and move freely to view her work from different perspectives. Her workspace is meticulously organized, with paints arranged by color groups, and a large trestle table serving as her palette. This environment supports her need for a focused and uninterrupted creative process.
Holding prefers silence over music, finding that it helps her maintain concentration. She is adept at tuning out distractions, with notifications permanently switched off and a preference for days devoid of meetings or appointments. This disciplined approach allows her to immerse herself fully in her work, entering a state of flow where time seems to disappear, and creativity takes over.
The structure of her workspace reflects her approach to art. Just as she seeks to create without constraints, her studio provides the freedom and resources needed to explore her ideas fully. This balance of organization and freedom is crucial to her creative process, enabling her to produce work that is both technically proficient and deeply expressive.
Gillian Holding: Inspirations and Aspirations
Holding’s influences span a broad spectrum, from writers to visual artists. The absurdity of everyday life, a recurring theme in her work, finds resonance in the writings of Guy Debord, Merleau-Ponty, and Georges Perec. Philosophers like Walter Benjamin and Hannah Arendt have also left a significant mark on her intellectual landscape. Visually, she draws inspiration from Marlene Dumas and William Kentridge for their mastery of media and political awareness, Paula Rego for her narrative prowess, and Nalini Malani for her figurative innovation. The bold brushwork and striking compositions of Lynette Yiadom-Boakye also captivate Holding.
One piece that holds special significance for Holding is Marlene Dumas’s “The Painter” (1994). Exhibited at Tate Modern, this work profoundly impacted her, with its ethereal paint handling, risk-taking, and evocative portrayal of a young child. Holding’s repeated visits to this exhibition underscore her deep appreciation for Dumas’s ability to convey complex emotions with minimalistic yet powerful brushstrokes.
Looking ahead, Holding dreams of a project that amplifies the scale and freedom of her work. She envisions an empty room, a huge canvas, and large pots of paint, allowing her to explore the full extent of her creativity without constraints. This aspiration reflects her ongoing quest for artistic liberation and her desire to push the boundaries of her practice.
