Lynn Malin: Rejuvenescence

I have always been fascinated by the subtle effects of ambient colour and light on our experience of art. Since the 1980s, my work has evolved from large, vibrant floral compositions to more abstract explorations of colour, light, and movement, often inspired by aerial land views. My floral pieces, though unpeopled, function as portraits. The flowers sprawl across the canvas with a timeless, raucous attitude, focusing on perennials and their perpetual renewal. These works aim to reveal a fresh and enduring vitality—a state of rejuvenescence.

More recently, I have concentrated on a series of mixed-media works (painting, print, and drawing) on Lexan, a polycarbonate resin thermoplastic sheet. These pieces are archivally bonded onto clear acrylic panels and then floated two inches from the wall. This presentation allows the image to seemingly change with the viewer’s movement and ambient light, creating an illusion of internal illumination. The surrounding walls also become animated by light and shadows.

The interplay of colour and light has always captivated me—from the way light refracts through gemstones to the spectrum revealed by a glass prism. Artists and architects like Frank Lloyd Wright, Chagall, Matisse, and Tiffany have all explored the profound impact of light through colored glass, a pursuit I also deeply share.

My Lexan “Scapes” are a direct result of these observations, exploring the movement and vitality of colour and light. I believe these works, too, embody a state of rejuvenescence.