Opening Saturday 11 July 2009, drinks with the artist 3-5 PM.Don Rankin brings a keen awareness of the historical achievements in painting to his work. He is intent on reuniting with tradition while taking modernism into account. As with his 2007 exhibition at Eva Breuer Art Dealer, this new series of paintings focuses on the genre of still-life but there is a new emphasis on flower paintings.
The flower paintings use devices borrowed from the history of still-life painting, particularly the theme of the transience of life. However, Rankin is more subtle – there are no skulls or clocks in his work. Instead, the flowers are often depicted as they near decay, retaining the essence of their former beauty even as they droop and contract, providing satisfaction and hope.
Consider “Iris (late afternoon)” for example: the fading rays of light through a Venetian blind illuminate a single iris whose petals are just beginning to wrinkle. The painting becomes a metaphor for the mortality of all living things, but in its faded beauty it presents as a positive, forward-looking image.
Other paintings in the exhibition depict fruit and objects often viewed from above resulting in a shallow pictorial space. It’s a bit like Mondrian meets Morandi.
Dead Calm is accompanied by a 16 page catalogue with 24 illustrations. The exhibition can be viewed from Wednesday 8 July until 21 July with an opening on Saturday 11 July from 3 - 5 pm.
The flower paintings use devices borrowed from the history of still-life painting, particularly the theme of the transience of life. However, Rankin is more subtle – there are no skulls or clocks in his work. Instead, the flowers are often depicted as they near decay, retaining the essence of their former beauty even as they droop and contract, providing satisfaction and hope.
Consider “Iris (late afternoon)” for example: the fading rays of light through a Venetian blind illuminate a single iris whose petals are just beginning to wrinkle. The painting becomes a metaphor for the mortality of all living things, but in its faded beauty it presents as a positive, forward-looking image.
Other paintings in the exhibition depict fruit and objects often viewed from above resulting in a shallow pictorial space. It’s a bit like Mondrian meets Morandi.
Dead Calm is accompanied by a 16 page catalogue with 24 illustrations. The exhibition can be viewed from Wednesday 8 July until 21 July with an opening on Saturday 11 July from 3 - 5 pm.
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(top right) Still life with Persimmon, 2008, oil on canvas, 55 x 56cm
(bottom left) Oriental bowl with plums #2, 2008, oil on canvas, 45 x 60cm
(bottom right) Poppies (line-up), 2009, oil on canvas, 85 x 120cm
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The composition is balanced and a common theme found throughout the collection is the exploration of texture. Wrinkled tablecloths to crinkled plastic bags produce stunning examples of his mastery of tone and colour.
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