H a i k u presents twenty new watercolours by Jo Lewis, a series that embraces the concise, mirrored structure of the haiku to explore what can be achieved within deliberately narrow limits.
Each painting begins with a single horizontal brushmark that anchors the white space. Subsequent marks respond to the last, forming an additive sequence in which the logic of the work gradually reveals itself. The transparency of watercolour leaves every decision visible; repetition exposes subtle shifts and departures.
Colour appears sparingly but with purpose, valued as much for the relationships formed at its edges as for its sensory impact. These small intersections - an overlap, an underlay, a near-invisible tint - are where the works’ most delicate complexities reside.
The sensibility of haiku runs throughout: what is half-stated carries weight. Bashō’s question, “Is there any good in saying everything?”, and David Cobb’s observation that haiku relies on a collaboration between maker and reader, both resonate here. These paintings ask for quiet attention. Time slows. Presence deepens.
Press enquiries: press@viviennerobertsprojects.com Exhibition continues 18 November -26 January 2026
A distilled series of twenty watercolours in which Jo Lewis uses haiku-like restraint - minimal marks, subtle colour, quiet attention - to reveal depth within strict, intimate bounds.
