A Tale as Old as Time: Colette LaVette

‘A Tale as Old as Time’ evokes stories so deeply embedded within culture that their origins have long been forgotten. Passed from one generation to the next, folklore exists in a constant state of transformation, shaped by those who tell it. It is less concerned with historical accuracy than with reflecting the values, fears and desires of the societies that preserve it. 

Passed from one generation to the next, folklore exists in a constant state of transformation, shaped by those who tell it. It is less concerned with historical accuracy than with reflecting the values, fears and desires of the societies that preserve it.

This body of work marks a significant evolution within the artist's practice. These compositions surrender more fully to rhythm, atmosphere and movement. The paintings unfold like performances rather than narratives. Lavette describes the process as one in which she "felt more like a composer than a painter." Structure becomes orchestration. Rhythm supersedes control. This heightened emphasis on tempo also amplifies the theatricality of the paintings. Light pools and recedes across the canvas, illuminating fleeting moments suspended between abstraction and figuration. Much like folklore itself, the paintings resist singular interpretation. They remain open, mutable and alive.