Jane Crisp

Jane Crisp’s ‘Invoking Aphrodite’ explores the intergenerational stories we carry within us; tales woven into our DNA that shape who we are. Inspired by the Japanese art of Kintsugi, the painting speaks to healing through the embrace of our past wounds, transforming brokenness into strength. Central to the work is the Tui, a native bird symbolising the present-day spirit and the awakening of feminine energy. Together with the figure of Aphrodite, the composition forms a chalice-like shape, echoing the Holy Grail, an ancient emblem of spiritual enlightenment, abundance, fertility, and the sacred connection between the material and the divine.

The divine feminine, associated with Shakti, yin, lunar energy, Gaia and water, is expressed here as intuitive, creative, and regenerative. Aphrodite, goddess of love and beauty, stands not only as a classical muse but also as a symbol of rising feminine consciousness. In the background, the myth of The Judgement of Paris is depicted, a reminder of how the feminine has long been central to mythological narratives of desire, choice, and consequence. Invoking Aphrodite invites viewers to reflect on how feminine power, often overlooked or suppressed, is being reclaimed as a force for healing, transformation, and collective rebirth.

Artist Bio

Jane Crisp is a contemporary New Zealand painter living in rural Waikato.

Working predominantly in acrylic on canvas, Crisp creates captivating portraits of New Zealand flora and fauna.

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