Charlotte Lane’s 2022 solo exhibition Light Side of the Moon presented paintings developed from tropical skies, changing cloud structures and the artist’s search for a more personal visual language.
The British-born artist had begun her career as a scenic painter, producing large backdrops for theatre, opera and events.
From commercial scale to individual expression
Years of working to briefs gave Lane technical confidence but left limited space for personal authorship. Motherhood and a move to Asia altered that balance, allowing her to work without the demands of a theatrical production.
Her sky series began during a rainy day in Singapore. Looking from a high-rise apartment, she became interested in the dramatic structures created by the tropical climate.
Lane often started from monochrome photographs of clouds so that colour could develop independently during painting. She mixed her own colours and accepted bold, unstable passages rather than seeking a polished photographic effect.
Painting as a deliberate pause
The artist described a ritual of lighting a candle and repeating affirmations before beginning work. This helped her resist the pressure to imitate other artists or anticipate what an audience might prefer.
Her mother’s phrase “Float and accept” became both a personal mantra and the subject of a painting. Lane connected the words with fragility, strength and the need to remain present during difficult periods.
Light Side of the Moon treated the sky as more than scenery. Its shifting forms gave Lane a way to explore freedom after years of controlled scenic production, while the finished works invited viewers to slow down and enter a quieter state of attention.