Larissa Tiggelers

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Larissa Tiggelers, "double-bodied," 2020, installation view (courtesy Jarvis Hall Gallery, Calgary)

Larissa Tiggelers’ subtle yet spatially complex abstract paintings are smooth, compact and not at all what they seem. Black geometric shapes anchor ambiguous choreographies that revolve around the mixing, distilling and dislocation of colours to create space for quiet yet disquieting contemplations. 

Her paintings, on view at Jarvis Hall Gallery in Calgary until Jan. 16, at first appear flat, seeming to lack colour or dimension. However, on closer inspection, muted greens, blues, reds, oranges and yellows begin to emerge, interacting in complex and curious ways. Colour relationships are carefully calibrated, and any sustained viewing reveals subtle yet dynamic palettes that cause her images to shift, expand or retreat from within their buttery-smooth surfaces.

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Larissa Tiggelers, "it had belonged," 2020, acrylic on board, 11" x 13.5" (courtesy Jarvis Hall Gallery, Calgary)

As suggested by the exhibition’s title, double-bodied, Tiggelers' arrangements of geometric shapes evoke twinning through their twofold imagery. Contrasting shapes may be coloured in the same hue but with slight variations in shade or tint. Such contrasts are what ultimately delineate each shape, often requiring closer scrutiny to see where one shape ends and another begins.

The differences play havoc with our perception. It’s similar to encountering a doppelgänger– two entities that eerily resemble one another, but on closer inspection contain features or elements that don’t quite match. Tiggelers brings this phenomenon to life, offering an intriguing glimpse into how subtle shifts of colour can deeply influence our perception of reality.

For example, in travelling between, we see a meticulously composed surface with two black forms suspended from above. The right form seems to overlap the left, but it’s actually an illusion created by colour – a lighter green pressed against a darker green.

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Larissa Tiggelers, "double-bodied," 2020, installation view (courtesy Jarvis Hall Gallery, Calgary)

Once immersed in her paintings, it’s difficult to pull away. These elusive shifts in colour are mesmerizing and the urge to identify the differences is palpable. 

Tiggelers, a professor at the University of Regina, earned her BFA at the Alberta University of the Arts in Calgary and an MFA at the University of Guelph. Along with maintaining her art practice, she has held positions in the Calgary artist-run scene, including time as the director of Stride Gallery. ■ 

Larissa Tiggelers: double-bodied at Jarvis Hall Gallery in Calgary from Nov. 20, 2020 to Jan. 16, 2021. 

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