Monique Hendricks – Contemporary Art Group

MEDIUM Acrylic

FEATURED WORK
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STATEMENT

In December 2015 I underwent brain surgery (Deep Brain Stimulation), a procedure used for treating Parkinson’s which effectively blocks the abnormal nerve signals that cause the symptoms of PD, such as tremors, rigidity, uneven gait. The operation was a success. Not only did it greatly improve my mobility, but it brought me to the realization that my illness and my art are inexorably linked, the limits imposed by the illness offset by the limitless possibilities offered by art.

Three months after the operation, I made the transition from minimalist/figurative painter to producer of abstracts “with an edge,” to borrow a fellow artist’s description of my most recent work. This return to the source-as a young adult I favored Abstract Expressionism-I owe to my mother who, knowing how much I loathed the traditionalists of yesteryear, introduced me to the rule-breaking modernists whose colorful designs, unusual techniques, and disdain for convention appealed to me.

Color will always be what drives me; that has not changed. My paintings are best birthed unfettered by the constraints (logic, language, linearity) of the left side of my brain. To facilitate the free flow of creativity I rely on the “loopiness” of my right hemisphere with Fancy and Whimsy as my traveling companions.

BIO/CV

MONIQUE HENDRICKS was born and raised in Switzerland. An avid traveler, she relocated fourteen times (England, Germany, Belgium, Iceland, New York) before settling in New Jersey, where she put down roots with her Guyanese husband and their two sons.

Monique, who was drawn to other cultures from a young age, studied anthropology as an undergraduate and holds masters in Media & Communications (London School of Economics) and Marriage & Family Therapy (Seton Hall University). For several years she worked as a foreign language editor and translator in the music industry. After her last relocation, she became a cross-cultural consultant, providing cultural adaptation programs for international assignees and their families. She wrote articles on expatriation in British and American magazines and published a book (Leaving Europe: A Cross-Cultural Memoir, 2006). She currently blogs on culture, communication and the arts at www.crossculturaltidings.com.

Ms. Hendricks is a member of the Contemporary Art Group (CAG) in Watchung, NJ, and the Art League of the Chathams (ALC). She exhibits regularly throughout New Jersey.