Jewels of Perception - Paintings by Richard Roblin.
Cowichan Public Art Gallery, 126 Ingram Street, Duncan V9L 1P1
Upper Gallery May 1 - October 10, 2026  Hours: Thursday - Saturday, 10:00-4:00
Opening is April 30, 7:00-9:00

​The Cowichan Public Art Gallery is honoured to host Jewels of Perception. The exhibition presents over 30 artworks by Roblin, who passed away in 2022 at age 82. In the curatorial notes, Jock Hildebrand describes Roblin’s seven-decade practice as “a disciplined and deeply personal inquiry into colour, form and the nature of perception itself”. Jock praises Roblin’s technical mastery and integrity of vision - that defines painting as a living process, involving intuition, experience and reflection.
​

Awakening #5, oil on canvas, 78x52 in, 2008

Fountainhead, acrylic on canvas, 78x48 in, 2008

Born in Saskatchewan in 1940, Roblin’s career in the visual arts began as a youth. At nineteen, his course was set towards abstraction, as he discovered “a unique way of seeing, and expressing it through this mysterious and wonderful activity of painting.” Over the years, the artist's exuberant abstractions showed in major international cities, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, which acquired one of his paintings in 1962. In his poetic and prolific writings, Roblin elaborates on his artistic process: “I love to paint, to engage with colour and form in a joyful way. My process begins by drawing with colour, a line or shape, then seeing what emerges. As the canvas lights up, so do I, becoming animated by the creative energies at play: a fiery dance, an open door, the breath of life.”
​

Miami, acrylic on canvas, 72x72 in, 2011

Detail: Diamond Yantra, oil on canvas, 74x74 in, 2001

​The nature of reality and our place in the cosmos are ongoing themes in Roblin’s writings and visual explorations. Miami, at 6 by 6 feet, is a joyful beacon of colour and texture, with a spectacular visual impact. The painting appears to throw off sparks of colour in all shades of the rainbow: orange, magenta, lilac, bright yellow, cobalt blue and verdant greens. Heavily textured by a scraping tool, the pigment is layered and appears to waver. The colours meld and re-emerge contained within a series of square and rectangular shapes. All is movement in this visual celebration of light and energy.

Diamond Yantra also measures 6 by 6 feet. A Yantra is a composition of geometric shapes used for meditation and focus in Buddhist traditions. A diamond Yantra uses the powerful diamond shape at its core to symbolize insight and strength.
Diamond Yantra is a square painting, with a large circle in its centre. The inner circle is criss-crossed with diamond and triangle shapes. The shapes float within a complex ground made from many-hued dabs of oil paint. Five concentric circles in rainbow tones frame the circle. As I gaze at the painting, an optical illusion occurs in which the centre of the painting appears to recede then advance, becoming telescopic in appearance.
​​

Portofino, acrylic on canvas, 42x60 in, 2010

Regatta 2, acrylic on canvas, 72x108 in, 2011 

Throughout his long career as a professional artist, Roblin produced artworks in series. The Roblin website lists 20 series: with Jewels of Perception being one. The exhibition features artworks from several of the series. Each series was affected by the location of Roblin’s studio, as he travelled extensively in Europe, Asia and North America. In his writings, Roblin recalls happy memories of his family’s stay in Massachusetts in 1988. He lived with his wife and young daughter on a country estate, surrounded by green rolling hills dotted with grazing sheep. The artist's studio was in the carriage-house. The idyllic beauty of the setting was a source of inspiration. Roblin writes: “This was a truly remarkable location. My paintings at this time were filled with the colour and light of the place. I also noticed a curious convergence of two major series, Wallseries and Fallingwater at this time, which had merged in some of my canvases.”
​

Awakening #3, oil on canvas, 26x40 in, 2009

Over the Rainbow III, 54x78 in, 2014

Bijou Bijou #2, acrylic on canvas, 54x54 in, 2013

On the Trail, oil on canvas, 36x48 in, 1998

Jewels of Perception - Paintings by Richard Roblin features a local artist with international stature. Cowichan Gallery’s goals are well-served by this exhibition. Founded in 2017, the Cowichan Public Art Gallery Society is a volunteer-run organization that seeks to build a world-class art gallery in Duncan. Their vision includes making the Duncan area a cultural destination through hosting local, national and international artists of distinction. Community support is crucial to the success of CPAG. Please visit their website to find out how to donate, become a member, and support the gallery through volunteer opportunities.    CPAG website.
​
More information about selected artworks in the estate of Richard Roblin can be found at   Roblin website

Two interior views of the Jewels of Perception exhibition. Photos: Chris Bone. 

​​Web Design and Content by Kate Cino.  
​Arts writer published in Focus, Yam, Boulevard and Monday Magazine.
History in Art degree and Public Relations certificate from the University of Victoria. 
​This website and its content is copyright of Art Openings, 2009.  All rights reserved.
[email protected];  250 598-4009