Jan Nigro has been drawing and painting for the last 70 years and is still going strong. These new works continue her long-time devotion to examining the human figure.
Throughout most of her work (formal at first, then from a range of perspectives), Nigro's life models have been starting points for her chosen themes and representations; likenesses to the models are incidental.
A narrative element is at play when the same model is depicted a number of times within a work (like the nude male reading the titular novel).
Here, the human figures (drawn and painted; using oil, acrylic, watercolour, ink and, most noticeably, pastel) have mainly been cut out and attached on paper in collage alongside photographic images.
It's surprising how well the juxtaposition works in terms of the larger picture.
Some life studies are made contemporary by the addition of tattoos. Oddly, sometimes a small black and white photograph of a young woman (presumably the model) appears beside Nigro's depiction of her.
Early in her career, Jan Nigro explored abstraction; and it shows in her compositions, some of which are complex.
In a triptych, a female and a male figure bookend a collage of images from nature along with images of the brutality of hunting and human constructions (including the novel's cover).
In one work, the lovers are symbolised by the suggested (and suggestive) shapes of cut-out photographic images of two trees in the background.
In another, nature seems to be reclaiming the body of Lady Chatterley as she lies dreaming of her lover.
Sometimes, it's colour that provides the strongest link between the human figure and nature; and some works are startlingly simple (a teapot and two cups, putting on stockings, doing up a button).
In the last work, a curtain of roses (mixing rich reds and blues against a bright yellow background) contains ghost images that provide lines of movement; animating three depictions of a female figure moving from left to right, delightfully highlighted by the reflected light on painterly skin tones.
Although the works on show are not accompanied by titles, the unfolding relationships within DH Lawrence's once controversial novel are probably well enough known.
Jan Nigro's new works put the emphasis on Lawrence's naturalism by balancing the social, sexual and psychological human aspects of the story with an equal attention to forest and flora; flowers often adorning anatomy (blue forget-me-nots on red hair).
Lady Chatterley's Lover
A suite of works on paper by Jan Nigro
Whangarei Art Museum until 22 January