Originally a designer, Jean Oddes' mirror series has huge appeal with interior designers as they can be used in place of period mirrors, the silver leaf providing a reflective surface that, combined with their large scale, offers an unusual alternative to antique mirrors.
"My drawings are based on 17th century iconography, a period that needed images as much as we need fact today. The prevalent allegories of Faith, Truth, Justice were as essential to the sanity of that age as a news channel is today - feeding our appetite for knowledge."
Jean Oddes uses this starting point to create his 'Mirror' series. He sews together pieces of specially sourced paper from around the world - China, Japan, Italy, Egypt - to create huge canvases on which he is able to enlarge the impact of the antique objects. The different papers provide contrasting textures and colours, over which he renders the objects in charcoal, pencil and ox blood or white chalks.
"My drawings are based on 17th century iconography, a period that needed images as much as we need fact today. The prevalent allegories of Faith, Truth, Justice were as essential to the sanity of that age as a news channel is today - feeding our appetite for knowledge."
Jean Oddes uses this starting point to create his 'Mirror' series. He sews together pieces of specially sourced paper from around the world - China, Japan, Italy, Egypt - to create huge canvases on which he is able to enlarge the impact of the antique objects. The different papers provide contrasting textures and colours, over which he renders the objects in charcoal, pencil and ox blood or white chalks.
