Marion Landry’s art practice is grounded in a phenomenological approach, which emphasizes an embodied experience through the process of painting. By incorporating the concept of the expanded field of painting into her practice, Landry creates site-responsive installations that utilize light, temperature, and traditional painting techniques to create immersive experiences. A recent shift towards viewing light as a material has transformed Landry’s approach to painting, as she now understands it to encompass both physical and metaphysical aspects of illumination. Landry’s geometrical compositions draw upon iconic optical strategies, such as chromatic vibrations, hard-edged forms, and graphic lines, positioning her work in dialogue with, but not defined by, the tenets of Modernist abstract art. These echoes aim to open possibilities for exploring and interrogating the potentialities of abstraction today. The artist uses non-objective language to capture the phenomenological essence of light as experienced in nature, evoking a meditative response in the viewer and creating a sensory and potentially spiritual experience. Through her research, the artist investigates how painterly practices can elicit embodied experiences that lead to a greater awareness of both mental and physical space. Landry’s experiences in nature, from early childhood canoeing adventures to daily walks in Pacific Spirit Park, have helped shape her perception and understanding of the world around her. The interaction of light with water droplets in the atmosphere, for example, is something she has observed and found to be a source of stimulation in her practice. These subtle natural occurrences require a willing mind and time to discover their wonder, and in their discovery, the notion of time becomes much more subjective and collapses to a specific moment. This embodiment of knowledge is not just cognitive but also physical and emotional, deeply rooted in the artist's senses and bodily experiences. Technically executed with dedication and respect for the traditions of painting, Landry’s work speaks directly to the cultural climate of today. With ongoing trauma from conflict and an overwhelming saturation of information, media, and technology, today's socio-political contexts can result in emotional numbness. The artist aims to create physical and mental space with her subtle painterly gestures, low colour contrast, and minimal gridded compositions. Landry’s painting installations invite viewers for a moment of contemplation and silence, offering a pathway into the inner self for those willing to give it time.
