Gina Jacklin - Artist Statement & Story

My work seeks to unveil the beauty of life unseen from a scientific lens that, together with a Christ-centred perspective, strives to convey that biological forms, have been thoughtfully and purposefully designed. When magnified through a microscope, our seemingly mundane world reveals a magical landscape, teeming with beauty and the strokes of pure genius that allude to the handiwork of a Grand Designer. 
Often using micrographs as reference material, my work offers a window into this mysterious and microscopic dimension, connecting viewers with the beauty, awe and wonder of creation that sparks a sense of joy, hope and wonder. Usually created with every day, found, and discarded objects, my artwork also seeks to challenge notions of purpose and value. 
I delight in repurposing and transforming castoff materials and found objects together into layered, cohesive compositions that highlight the intricate structures of organisms.

My art journey began at the tender age of two when I’m told by my mother, that I would happily squiggle away for hours when given some paper and coloured crayons. It was then that my love of shapes and colour emerged and ever since, art has played an integral role in my life. I credit my mother for having recognized my artistic gifts early on and for having encouraged and supported my artistic passion unwaveringly throughout the years. She and I settled in Canada when I was eleven, coming in as immigrants from Colombia. As I grew up, so did my love for art, which, together with my mom’s encouragement, paved the way for my academic pursuit in the field of Fine Arts. 
Two years into my Fine Arts degree program however, I was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. My cancer diagnosis shaped the beginnings of my artistic development and would become a key defining experience informing the work I would go on to create.

Cancer transformed the way I saw many aspects of life but specifically, the way I saw the human body and longed to understand the miracle that is life through both a scientific and spiritual lens. Influenced by the images of CT Scans, MRIs and X-rays that I was routinely subjected to, inspired an interest in micrographs - photographs taken with a microscope. I became entranced by the beautiful microscopic images of cellular structures, awe-stricken by the finesse, intelligence and complexity evident in the human body at the cellular level. 
The lifelong, creative drive and spirit I had known since I was a child connected with my cancer experience in a way that nothing had before. In looking at life forms from a scientific lens, I had found an endless fountain of inspiration from which to draw from that served as the foundation for informing both the visual aesthetic as well as the philosophical underpinnings of my work.
In 2015, my life was transformed yet again, but this time by the Gospel. This ultimate renewal of spirit, heart and mind have allowed me to weave together my artistic passion, experience as a cancer survivor, and my love of biology (nature) and theology (God), into my art. 
My life experiences have culminated in me, a desire to glorify God through artwork that speaks to the thoughtful design of creation, that from a scientific lens, seeks to highlight the intrinsic purpose and beauty evident in all of life, even in the smallest, seemingly insignificant and sometimes darkest of environments. I want to connect those who long to see the world through a different lens, with the beauty of creation, to spark a sense of joy, awe and wonder in their hearts and minds through original fine art and commissions.

Artist Statement

Gina resides in Guelph, ON with her beloved husband and son,

and works out of her home studio.

My Story

In The Studio

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