The surface of the water shimmers: each ripple becomes a miniature lens, bending and dispersing light in different directions. Colors shift from deep blues and greens to turquoise and aquamarine, then to light yellow and crimson red. Particles of salty water saturate the moist air, turning into pearls interwoven in the abstract seascapes of Jana Cordenier’s embroidery paintings.  

The desire to capture the dynamic essence of her surroundings contributes to Jana Cordenier's passion for working en plein air. Artmaking sessions in the open air resemble a symbolic ritual of becoming one with the landscape. 'It's not like 'me and nature.' It feels more like 'the rock is me, the sea is me, the plant is — I’m the plant,' explains Cordenier. The artist refers to her paintings as 'atmospheres': they represent experiences of the body and are aimed at triggering different senses. In her process, nature serves not only as inspiration but as a co-creator.  

The concept behind 'Tides' originated on a journey to Greece, during which the artist worked on an expansive drawing using a 10-meter roll of paper she brought with her. Placing it directly on the bare ground, she allowed it to absorb the earth's uneven texture, and be shaped by plants, branches, rocks, and other natural marks that would infuse the drawing with a living, dynamic character. For one drawing, she experimented with seawater: as the paper dried, the salt crystals added an extra-dimensional depth to its texture.  

While Cordenier highly values the process of spontaneous collaboration with nature, the transition from drawing to painting unfolds in the studio, carefully overseen by the artist. In this space, she engages in the process of conceptual transformation of the landscape, opting for the medium of embroidery on canvas.