Jonas Wood's Japanese Garden series, initiated in 2017, stands out as a vivid exploration of nature and architectural exteriors through the artist's distinctive lens. The series exemplifies Wood's deep interest in bringing the outdoors into his artistic realm, particularly focusing on the orderly and meticulously curated spaces of traditional Japanese gardens. These works are characterized by their layered composition, combining a patchwork of flattened forms with intricate brushwork, predominantly featuring lush greens and blues that together create a serene and contemplative space on canvas.
One of the most notable pieces in this series, "Japanese Garden 3" (2019), measures 88 x 98 inches and was auctioned at Christie's New York for a landmark price, highlighting not only the artistic significance of Wood's work but also its philanthropic impact. The sale of this painting was dedicated to benefiting rainforest conservation, specifically to fund a 600,000-acre reserve in South America to support biodiversity and combat climate change. This initiative, in collaboration with Art to Acres and with generous matching from conservation organizations, showcased a powerful synergy between art and environmental conservation, transforming the sale of a singular piece of art into a substantial contribution towards the protection of critical rainforest habitat.
Moreover, the "Japanese Garden" series has received notable attention in the art market, underscoring Wood's impact on contemporary art. For instance, one of the paintings from this series, "Japanese Garden 3," achieved a record-setting auction price at Christie's in May 2019, selling for $4.9 million. This accolade not only highlights the series' significance within Wood's oeuvre but also reflects the broader art community's recognition of his innovative approach to landscape painting.
The reception of Wood's Japanese Garden series and particularly "Japanese Garden 3" underscores the artist's ability to infuse simplicity with profound depth and beauty, all while contributing to a cause far beyond the art world. Wood's work, celebrated for its vibrant depiction of personal and external landscapes, here crosses into the realm of tangible impact, securing hundreds of thousands of acres of rainforest through the fusion of artistic endeavor and conservationist effort (Art and Object) (Rewild).
This series, and the journey of "Japanese Garden 3" from canvas to conservation catalyst, marks a remarkable chapter in Wood's career, emphasizing not only his artistic prowess but also his engagement with broader societal and environmental issues.
Through the Japanese Garden series, Jonas Wood contributes to a contemporary reimagining of landscape art, merging the traditional with the modern, the personal with the universal. These paintings underscore Wood's talent for capturing the essence of his subject matter while infusing it with his own narrative and stylistic elements, offering a fresh perspective on the enduring allure of Japanese gardens in the process.
