Jeannine Cook: Tracing Memory Through Silverpoint

Members of The Arts Society Mallorca recently had the pleasure of meeting Jeannine Cook at MA Arte Contemporáneo Gallery in Palma de Mallorca, where they were invited to experience her latest exhibition and discover the extraordinary world of silverpoint drawing.

Born to a Japanese mother and descended from pioneers of Western Australia, Jeannine Cook’s work is deeply rooted in memory, heritage, and the natural world. In recent years, her artistic journey has become an intimate exploration of identity, reconnecting with the landscapes and cultures that shaped her family history.

An internationally recognised specialist in the ancient technique of silverpoint drawing, Cook is among only a handful of artists worldwide dedicated to this demanding and luminous medium. Now based in Mallorca, following many years in the United States, she creates works of remarkable delicacy and precision that reveal both the physical textures of nature and the invisible traces of time.

Her fascination with organic forms began during her childhood in northern Tanzania, where she developed a profound sensitivity to the intricate surfaces of bark, stone, and earth. In her drawings, these natural markings become symbolic “fingerprints” — subtle records of place, memory, and transformation.

Through silverpoint, Cook evokes the spirit of both Japan and Western Australia: the refined elegance of Japanese textile traditions and washi paper, alongside the enduring presence of Australia’s eucalyptus trees, silent witnesses to generations of family history. Many of her works explore the idea of the palimpsest — layers accumulated through time — reflecting both the weathering of the natural world and the enduring imprint of human experience.

Quietly luminous and deeply contemplative, Jeannine Cook’s work invites viewers into a meditative dialogue between nature, ancestry, and the passage of time.

For more about MA Arte Contemporáneo, please click https://www.ma-artecontemporaneo.com/