The current exhibition at CUAG is both: disturbing and energetic. It shows recent paintings by the Ottawa artists Melanie Authier, Martin Golland, Andrew Morrow and Amy Schissel. All four have garnered acclaim in Canada and internationally and the combination of these four so different artists is very intriguing.
Entrance of the Carleton University Art Gallery: The yellow paper warns the visitor against sexual content. It proved necessary!
Why disturbing? Because Andrew Morrow, who is a University of Ottawa master's of fine art graduate, deals in his large-scale paintings with mythological scenery in a rococo kitschy style with pornographic content. That's disturbing because you just realise this at second glance, although it is so obvious. Even more disturbing are the inscriptions that point on the very sex scenes and comment them.
The two paintings in the front: Melanie Authier, Augury (2010) and Lift (2010).
Why energetic? Because Melanie Authier demonstrates the potency of the paint palette, plays with different perspectives when she creates movement and momentum with wide vertical brush strokes. In her abstracted images landscape elements might still be visible.
On the right wall: Amy Schissel, Common Ground (2010); Martin Golland, Lockjaw (2010), Facade (2010). On the back wall: Martin Golland, Detour (2010), Armature (2010). Golland paints in oil on canvas whereas Schissel uses mixed media and encaustic on wood. Golland is master’s of fine art professor at Carleton; Schissel a recent graduate.
Amy Schissel reflects on her work that deals with the human imagination in the age of electronics and digital images: “The constant presence of digital technology in a data-driven and media-saturated culture supplies the subconscious with an onslaught of virtual and synthetic imagery, to which the human imagination has adapted.” (Schissel's comment on her exhibition “Prolix X” 2009 at the Karsh Masson Gallery)
The exhibition shows paintings that are all made exclusively in 2010. A great insight in the status quo of the Ottawa art scene; at least in the media of painting. Let's keep our eyes open in 2011!
Facts:
Four Ottawa Painters: Authier, Golland, Morrow, Schissel
Like watching the paintings. Really looks great. Nice colors too.
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