Halcyon Gallery’s most recent showcase “Clearly Visible” features pieces from six emerging artists such as David Hockney, Bob Dylan, Ernesto Cánovas, and Dominic Harris. With a central focus on floral interpretations, each artist presents their unique styles and techniques within the larger context of floral storytelling — from David Hockney’s lively depictions of tulips created digitally to Bob Dylan’s vibrant representation of sunflowers in watercolor and Dominic Harris’s animated blooms. LUXUO provides a brief insight into what art enthusiasts can anticipate at this exhibition.
“Clearly Visible” encourages observers to pause and acknowledge the allure of beauty “in the commonplace,” as the exhibit praises art’s capacity to lead its viewers to discover the enchantment in what some may overlook. In the expressions of David Hockney, “Images inspire images, but they also reveal things that we might otherwise miss.”
The exhibition also unveils Pedro Paricio’s collection — named “9 Portraits” — for the very first time outside of his homeland in the Canary Islands. Completed in 2023, Paricio drew inspiration from revered portrait works of art history, blending themes, gestures, and emotions into his distinct, modern visual lexicon.
Through expressive reinterpretations — found in portraits by the likes of Pablo Picasso, Mary Cassatt, and Artemisia Gentileschi — Paricio reimagines these moments with liveliness. By stripping the faces from the portraits that inspired him, he aims to “erase their individuality, turning the 17th-century portrait into a symbol of universal humanity.” Described by the artist as “paintings with a modern twist but a timeless essence,” this collection was originally revealed at the Mapfre Foundation in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria in 2023.
The display will feature the sculpture “Florian” by Paul Cummins MBE, comprising intricate handmade porcelain white roses arranged in a complex circle, emphasizing the traditional symbol of innocence. Cummins, known for his distinctive portrayal of flowers in both painting and sculpture mediums, seeks to subvert the rose window concept by accentuating the intricate interplay of shadows inspired by the light patterns cast by stained glass rose windows in gothic churches.
Attendees of the exhibit will have the privilege of being the initial viewers of Cummins’s floral mixed media paintings on paper. Stemming from the artist’s observations of his cultivated flowers, he captures them at every growth phase. These artworks seize the exquisite moment of blossoming; their petals unfurling to unveil their complete vibrant splendor.
“NeoBloom” is an unprecedented creation by prominent digital artist Dominic Harris. The piece showcases perpetually blooming flowers, enchanting in their eternal beauty, echoing the core theme of the exhibition—”In Plain Sight”; the charm of the ordinary. This latest creation hangs in conjunction with an immersive zone housing an interactive display of digitally hand-crafted butterflies, titled “Spectrum,” revealed for the first time.
Finally, Ernesto Cánovas’ most ambitious paintings will also be showcased. His recent series demonstrates the manipulation of images and materials to signify memories hinting at an evolving storyline. Initially dreamy, the artworks exhibit enigmatic subject matter forming an abstract portrayal of discovered elements which, upon closer inspection, reveal their identity. Concealed beneath layers of meticulously applied vinyl and acrylic are subjects and objects that take the spotlight.
In Plain Sight is currently on display at the flagship Halcyon Gallery on 148 New Bond Street until July 7, 2024.
For further details on the exhibit and Halcyon Gallery, visit this link.
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