Quiescence refers to a state of quietness, temporary inactivity, or rest. This condition mirrors the process of painting itself; a state of latency, suspension and contained potential. Ideas do not always emerge fully formed; instead, they gather slowly, often beneath the surface of conscious thought, waiting for the right conditions to flourish.

Jamie Kirk’s paintings operate as a site for fictional constructions and personal narratives, drawing from found imagery, digital culture, oneiric scenarios and everyday references to build spaces that feel cinematic and suspended, where atmosphere takes precedence over explicit narration. At the intersection of self-reflection and cultural critique, his paintings are defined by a dynamic interplay between gestural immediacy and meticulous construction, balancing expressive mark-making with a precise attention to surface and structure. By integrating elements of digital mediation into his painterly language, Kirk interrogates the evolving relationship between materiality and virtuality, pushing the boundaries of contemporary abstraction and disrupting conventional hierarchies of image-making.

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7 – 31 August 2026, SEESAW’s Cafe Gallery

Opening times: Mon – Fri, 8:30am – 4pm

Preview: Friday 7 August, 6 – 9pm, free entry