Polychromatic
Drawing on the theoretical framework of Surrealism and seminal psychoanalytic studies, this exhibition aims to engage viewers with the subconscious perceptions of the self through artworks that utilise colour to reveal emotion and expressivity.
Daniel Raphael Gallery is delighted to present Polychromatic curated by Tima Jam, a group exhibition of five internationally acclaimed artists from Iran, Nigeria, Turkey and Mexico. Each artist explores notions of identity and the self through their own inventive use of colour.
The concept of identity and perception of the self is perhaps now more pertinent than ever. Throughout art history, colour has been used in artworks to help create a sense of identity, by conveying intangible concepts such as emotions, dreams and mental states. Drawing on the theoretical framework of Surrealism and seminal psychoanalytic studies, this exhibition aims to engage viewers with the subconscious perceptions of the self through artworks that utilise colour to reveal emotion and expressivity.
Colour psychology is defined as the "study of hues as a determinant of human behavior". Artists can intentionally use colours to portray their own emotions, and bring about certain emotions within the viewer. In these circumstances, colour is used to build identity. This exhibition will therefore focus on paintings that, filled with rhythm and colour, take the viewer on a journey into the artists' perception of the self. The juxtaposition of colours, shapes and brushstrokes all form an aesthetic foundation on which to explore notions of identity - from the perspective of both the artist, and audience.
Daniel Raphael Gallery is delighted to present Polychromatic curated by Tima Jam, a group exhibition of five internationally acclaimed artists from Iran, Nigeria, Turkey and Mexico. Each artist explores notions of identity and the self through their own inventive use of colour.
The concept of identity and perception of the self is perhaps now more pertinent than ever. Throughout art history, colour has been used in artworks to help create a sense of identity, by conveying intangible concepts such as emotions, dreams and mental states. Drawing on the theoretical framework of Surrealism and seminal psychoanalytic studies, this exhibition aims to engage viewers with the subconscious perceptions of the self through artworks that utilise colour to reveal emotion and expressivity.
Colour psychology is defined as the "study of hues as a determinant of human behavior". Artists can intentionally use colours to portray their own emotions, and bring about certain emotions within the viewer. In these circumstances, colour is used to build identity. This exhibition will therefore focus on paintings that, filled with rhythm and colour, take the viewer on a journey into the artists' perception of the self. The juxtaposition of colours, shapes and brushstrokes all form an aesthetic foundation on which to explore notions of identity - from the perspective of both the artist, and audience.
Iranian painter Salman Khoshroo depicts distorted figures in highly emotional states. Using a knife to apply thick layers of paint, Khoshroo transforms identity into a variable, dismantling our preconceived notions of gender and beauty. Mexican painter Horacio Quiroz celebrates the tension between beauty and the grotesque through his depictions of contorted human figures. At times comically surreal, Quiroz adopts a distinctive approach to conveying movement on canvas, constantly straddling the line between reality and the fantastical.
The work of Turkish artist Mustafa Horasan investigates issues surrounding capitalism, mass media, and global wealth disparities. Utilising imagery concerned with pop-culture and consumerism, Horasan applies a rich and vivid palette to bodies and creatures with beyond human characteristics, heightening the intricacies of human existence. Similarly, Iranian artist Milad Mousavi is inspired by the world and society that surrounds him. Fusing artistic mediums such as cinema and animation, Mousavi also approaches the theme of identity by making use of an intense colour palette.
Fusing bold colours and prints to convey a uniquely West African identity, Nigerian artist Olamide Ogunade Olisco uses the canvas to open discourses around individualism, beauty and race. Ogunade Olisco's use of charcoal, juxtaposed by the vibrancy of the surrounding colour palette, lends an animated luminosity to the depiction of the human form. Ever-present is a delicate, sympathetic approach to the treatment of his subjects, imbuing them with a graceful elegance that is exceptionally emotive.
Polychromatic brings together five seemingly disparate artists from across the globe. Yet despite their geographical separation, each artist is connected by their unique methods of exploring identity through meditations on colour. Intangible concepts and emotions are presented through a visual experience that invites the viewer to question their own predetermined perception of identity and the self.
