In Search of Beauty by Jaynie Crimmins

Meticulous handmade details assembled into sculptural 3D artworks

Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, the Cultural Affairs Department at the Sharjah Department of Culture has organised the 22nd edition of the Sharjah Islamic Arts Festival, which runs until January 21, 2020.

The Sharjah Art Museum hosts 31 exhibitions by Emirati, Arab and international artists. This edition titled 'Prospect' includes 241 artworks by 108 artists from 31 countries, from the United Arab Emirates, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and neighbouring Arab countries, as well as Columbia, Italy, the United Kingdom, Belarus, Australia, and Argentina.

HH Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, inaugurated the exhibition 'In Search of Beauty' by Jaynie Crimmins, currently on view at the Sharjah Art Museum.

Jaynie Crimmins presents her work to HH Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah / Photo courtesy of Sharjah Department of Culture

Jaynie Crimmins creates objects with meticulous handmade details that contrast with the banality of their materials. She repurposes solicitations, safety envelopes, and catalogues that are difficult to recycle (because their inks have high concentrations of heavy metals). Shredding these marketing materials breaks down their physical structure, so the artist can roll, fold, sew and fabricate the shreds into intimate sculptural reliefs. These pieces are then assembled into sculptural 3D artworks.

Crimmins explains "Nothing seemed to make it into the trash in the apartment of my Eastern European grandparents. Discarded clothing became crocheted rugs. Old curtains became aprons. Leftovers became the ingredients for new meals. Nothing was wasted, everything possible was reused. Castoff items became novel and compelling in their metamorphosis.

Combining this sensibility with the shredding of junk mail illuminates the physical acts of deconstructing and repurposing. The power of transformation, frugality, ingenuity and handmade quality drive my practice."