In The Periphery, Thoermer explores the notion of the edge — spatial, social and psychological – to reflect on what exists beyond the centre and within the quiet spaces that unfold at the margins of perception. The paintings on display, all created during the artist’s maternity leave, emerged from a period of stillness and close observation, when her gaze turned towards the subtle choreography of daily life. They depict mundane objects such as pots, dishes and chairs, while capturing the repetition in everyday gestures. Contrasting the static nature of traditional still life painting, these works carry a tangible sense of movement where the actions of stacking, holding, and arranging become part of a visually captivating humdrum routine.

Thoermer’s paintings reveal the medium’s ability to connect us with hidden aspects of our psyches. Her works carry a raw honesty, touching what lies just beyond the familiar, at once comforting and disquieting. Charged with both tenderness and unease, her compositions become sites through which to examine the tension that hums beneath everyday life.