Symbiosis
Christina Parker Gallery
April 22. 22
St John's, Newfoundland

“Every single breath we draw in, we inhale what our natural environment provides and in releasing that breath our environment breathes us back,” writes Kristina Søbstad. “Symbiosis refers to the interaction between two different organisms living in a close physical association typically to the advantage of both. This body of work highlights our symbiotic relationship with our delicate but also resilient natural environment. We are components of these spaces, not merely visitors. Our natural environment imprints on our physical and emotional selves, just the same as we imprint on it, a visceral and beautiful exchange.”

“Nebulas, friendship, fantasy, working together, stars, animal instincts and energy, were all words that Kristina Søbstad and I were inspired by for our Symbiosis duo exhibition,” writes Jared Betts. “Kristina and I both have a deep appreciation for abstract art, forests, stars, the ocean and mixed media mark making. Lately, I have been realizing more than ever that we are made of the same things stars are made of… the same atoms in our bodies are the same atoms that are created in the dying stage of an exploding star called a supernova. Too often, we can be so busy during the day that we can forget just how beautiful and magical we are as humans.”

“Art can be about a feeling rather than representation, and that is what the basis of Symbiosis is all about for me. I love the idea of working from my emotions and using mixed media to express myself through color, glitter, spray paint, splatters and prism light energy. Symbiosis is about bringing together my neo abstract expressionist works with Kristina’s synesthetic abstract dream landscapes with mountains and rushing energy flowing through valleys and bodies of water like electrical storms of fantastical ethereal bliss.”