The work of Eugene Jarque has always occupied the dynamic intersection of the workshop and the studio. This path was first inspired by the artist’s carpenter father, whose influence instilled a deep respect for tools, materials, and the honest labor of building by hand. For years, this creative energy was channeled into "utilitarian DIY"—the hands-on labor of constructing the functional structures that define a life. From communal tables and furniture rescued from scrap wood to the technical precision of electronic hobbies and the skeletal framing of a hand-built tiny house, Jarque has remained consistently engaged with the "how" of things. This creative drive extends beyond human dwellings to more intimate projects, such as domestic animal shelters, reflecting a lifelong interest in the essential geometry of living. Offcuts serves as the artistic reflection of this ongoing construction project.
In these mixed-media paintings, the artist translates physical structures into a language of structural simplicity. Utilizing disciplined straight lines and meticulously assembled strips of painted canvas, he "reconstructs" the objects that once occupied his workshop. The artistic process directly mirrors the act of furniture making: cutting, measuring, and rejoining disparate parts to form a new, cohesive whole. By distilling the intricate wiring of electronics, the raw frames of tiny houses, and the gable roofs of simple shelters into linear, minimalist forms, Jarque highlights the connection between the physical act of building and the internal patterns of a life lived through craftsmanship.
