Autumn Equinox

Artist Joyce Winifred Cairns (Edinburgh, Scotland, born 1947)

Mediumoil on hardboard

ClassificationsPaintings And Drawings

DimensionsOverall: Height: 121.1 cm, Width: 121.3 cm
Frame: Height: 125.4 cm, Width: 125 cm

AcquisitionPresented in 1977 by the Friends of Aberdeen Art Gallery & Museums.

LocationView by Appointment - Aberdeen Treasure Hub

Object numberABDAG000039

Keywords

About MeEdinburgh born Joyce Cairns (1947) has lived and worked in Aberdeen for many years, where the city's harbour village of Footdee or "Fittie", provides inspiration for many of her paintings.

"Autumn Equinox" is an example of her early work which incorporates much symbolism and reference to legends. The subject of this highly decorative painting is the Greek legend of Leda and the Swan. Leda, wife of the King of Sparta, was loved by Zeus. Zeus came to Leda in the form of a swan and made love to her. As a result, Leda laid two eggs which hatched to release the infants inside. One of these infants became Helen of Troy and the other was Polydeuces, better known as Pollux. Castor and Pollux are the two "heavenly twin" stars that give the constellation Gemini (meaning "twins" in Latin) its name.

Joyce Cairns' work often has a sense of unease and tension. In "Autumn Equinox" this unease may be caused by a look into the future: there is perhaps a sense of realising one's own mortality as part of the ever-lasting, ever-changing natural world. In contrast to this painting, Cairns' more recent work draws upon real social experiences, including conflict and war, though dreams and visions remain an important part of her art.
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The luminosity of the lighter colours in this work almost make it seem as if the painting were a stained glass window, catching the light of the setting sun.