Tina Francis Review
By Catherine Evans
Tina Francis gives us permission to
gaze into a new world. The detail of her paintings sometimes
resembles photographs, which resonate from the walls. They are awake
and urgent to tell us a story. The urgency plays out an enticing
narrative, of mother caring for their children. The ever-watchful
child in Precious Cargo’ gazes out at the world, with the hint
of a frown deepening his brow. The child may have seen more hardship,
at this young age, than we see in a lifetime. There is an undeniable
strength to Francis’ women, seen particularly well in ‘A Lady
Waits’.Her face seems to ask: ‘Where are they’? She is
relatable in her expectant stance and we have all been there, waiting
for something that may never come.
The stillness of the landscapes
contrasts beautifully with the defiant faces of the women. The beach
landscape and ‘The Dolphini’ take place under a glowing moon. The
white and blue hues creates a sense of serenity. One can imagine
oneself dipping their toes into the cool sea. ‘The Dolphini’ is a
mystical painting, with two dolphins jumping into the air, quite
literally erupting out of the midnight blue water. Here, the movement
punctuates the stillness. It encourages a concentration and
contemplation of nature; such is the vivid nature of Francis’
works.
Animals are prevalent in Francis’
work, their wildness giving us a glimpse of true Africa. The painting
entitled ‘Rage’ stand out. The cloud of dust, that the elephant
kicks- brings the whole piece to life. If you gaze long enough, the
elephant may walk out of the wall and into the room. Francis’ work
suggests that we can experience these animals that are ordinarily too
wild to approach. It is this charming place of approachable wildness
which absorbs us into Francis’ paintings.
