FARSIGHT
The genesis of this body of work stems from the innocuous task of teaching my sons to drive.
I have steadfastly believed that the best place to think is in front of an expansive vista, with a sky and horizon so vast it’s almost unimaginable. There's something about the immense scale that helps thoughts process and perspective recalibrate.
I was acutely aware that this rite of passage, learning to drive, was one of the last parental activities I could physically share with my sons. Soon, they would be independent young men venturing into the world, and I would transition from my role as captain to an anchor in their past. These drives became a long, unspoken farewell, with conversations turning into confidences as we sat side by side, eyes focused ahead. The distant horizon acted as a mediator, allowing things to be said without the intensity of eye contact, and conversations developed their own timelines and motivations.
During our drives, we discussed everything from the philosophical to the practical—the merits of the road less travelled, the importance of bravery and seizing opportunities, and the role of failure, even if its value wouldn’t be understood immediately. We practised changing gears, hill starts, and parallel parking in public. We talked about carving their own paths instead of following others blindly, making time for friends, exercise, and nature, taking care of their bodies, and testing their limits. We shared stories about ourselves. All the while, the horizon and the vastness beyond accompanied us and facilitated our conversations.
Similarly, I hope these paintings offer viewers the same sense of mediation in whatever they seek, offering a space to gain perspective and clarity that comes from facing vastness but wanting company in the process.
The conversations from these drives provided me with the titles for these paintings.
I am happy to report that both boys love a good road trip.
- Jennie De Groot