Small World - Big Ideas
Detail of Bloomers, 7.5x11 in, ink and acrylic on paper.
Assorted Works by Haren Vakil Photography by Greg Glover
October 8-26, 2019
Opening Reception Tuesday October 8, 5-7:30 PM
Gage Gallery Arts Collective, 2031 Oak Bay Ave, Victoria
Gage Gallery Arts Collective, 2031 Oak Bay Ave, Victoria
Shall we Dance? 17x24.5 in, ink and acrylic on Yupo paper.
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Directions Unknown, 19x25 in, ink and acrylic on Yupo paper.
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Gage Gallery member Haren Vakil and his invited guest Greg Glover have a lot in common. They met at meetings of the Island Illustrators Society and shared their views on art, politics and the nature of reality. In 2015 they collaborated on an artwork for In Cahoots (Synergy) art show at the Slide Room Gallery. In Wayfarers, Glover's photography and computer graphics added another dimension to Vakil’s boating story. Both men share an upbeat curiosity about the minutiae of existence, and the creative energy to express myriad ideas.
Haren Vakil was born in Mumbai India, one of the largest cities in the world. He holds an Architecture degree from MS University in Baroda, India and a Fine Art diploma from the Victoria College of Art. Vakil describes his artwork as surreal and fantastic, influenced by his experiences with urban design, diverse cultures, music and especially jazz. Vakil agrees with Belgian surrealist painter Rene Magritte, who said: “Life obliges me to do something, so I paint.” Both Magritte and Vakil favour humorous and puzzling images that challenge a viewer’s preconceptions. Both use artmaking to evoke wonder and consternation. “The mind loves the unknown,” said Magritte. “It loves images whose meaning is unknown, since the meaning of the mind itself is unknown.”
Big Fish, 22x30 in, ink and acrylic on paper.
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Bride Grooms, 20x26 in, ink and acrylic on Yupo paper.
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Haren Vakil’s painting and drawing skills come from years of experience and formal education. In 2019, Jurors at the Sooke Fine Art Show honoured his talents with an Award of Excellence for Directions Unknown. Juror Richard Motchman explains that to show excellence, an artwork must have outstanding technical skill and a unique personal vision or viewpoint. “Vakil’s artwork stands out,” Motchman says, “the humour and drama shine within the surrealistic genre.” The varied palette, tonal range and unusual composition all contribute to the success of Directions Unknown. Vakil’s tonal choices and colourful shapes are aided by his use of Yupo paper, which stays firm under watery washes of medium.
Juror Richard Motchman is an established artist practicing at Xchanges Gallery. It was his first experience jurying a large scale exhibition, and he found the process rewarding. It took Motchman two days to view 1500 artworks on screen and evaluate them with a number from 1-5. The 375 artworks with the highest scores were then viewed by the jurors in the exhibition hall. The three jurors needed to be in consensus about Awards of Excellence, and they all agreed upon Directions Unknown.
Gateway, 19x27 in, ink and acrylic on paper.
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Untitled, 13x10 in, ink and acrylic on paper.
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Photography by Greg Glover
Greg Glover’s photographs also show outstanding technical skill and a unique personal viewpoint. The arresting close-up photos of life forms and objects are meticulously mounted on 6x6 inch cradle boards. The square format supports his frequent postings on Instagram. Glover finds new worlds revealed by his macro lens. “Accidental colours and textures reveal themselves,” he says, “and delight my sense of mystery”. Glover studied Fine Art at Camosun College and the Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design. He developed his design and computer skills while living in Japan for 12 years. The artist excels in 3D illustration and produces page layouts in both English and Japanese. Artists hire him to professionally scan and photograph their originals.
Greg Glover’s photographs also show outstanding technical skill and a unique personal viewpoint. The arresting close-up photos of life forms and objects are meticulously mounted on 6x6 inch cradle boards. The square format supports his frequent postings on Instagram. Glover finds new worlds revealed by his macro lens. “Accidental colours and textures reveal themselves,” he says, “and delight my sense of mystery”. Glover studied Fine Art at Camosun College and the Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design. He developed his design and computer skills while living in Japan for 12 years. The artist excels in 3D illustration and produces page layouts in both English and Japanese. Artists hire him to professionally scan and photograph their originals.
Arrangement of 6x6 inch photos on cradle board, Greg Glover 2019
When Glover visits a forest, he likes to walk towards the sunlight. This illuminates the vegetation as shown in the close-up of Beard Lichen. Strands of moss cling to the bark like twisted threads, while the beard lichen reaches out with delicate tentacles. A tiny spiker web with droplets can be seen as well. Lichen often grows on ailing trees, so the process (and intricate details) of decay are again highlighted.
Glover uses a Sony mirrorless camera to capture his unique viewpoints. He walks in nature as much as possible and explores the coast line and parklands. Pixie Cup Lichen was taken at Swan Lake Nature Sanctuary, on the edge of a floating pier. He finds the aqua-blue coloration gives an underwater aura to the photo. Glover took over 20 photos using a hand-held macro lens. He takes time to set up the shot. “Even with an image stabilizer lens,” he explains, “any minor shake of the hands looses the focus.”
Beard Lichen, photo on cradle board, 6x6 in, 2019
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Pixie Cup Lichen, photo on cradle board, 6x6 in, 2019
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Glover discovered the visual treasure of Multicoloured Wheel on his way to Hartland landfill. A derelict truck by the roadside had been painted many colours over the years. The photo highlights the rusting centre of a tire, with layers of colours exposed. “I find the process of decay fascinating,” he says, “an object that was once someone's pride and joy, becomes more interesting as it decomposes.”
Past, Present and Future was taken at Bamberton Beach at very low tide. The close-up view of barnacles on a clam shell reveals only one alive. The other shells are empty except for grains of sand. Here again the artist plays with time and changes, as the progressive history of the colony is clearly visible. The images morph from alive and well - to ghostly and disappearing.
Haren Vakil is savouring his second year as a member of the Gage Gallery Art Collective. “They are a committed and friendly group of artists,” he says. Both Vakil and Glover look forward to sharing their extraordinary vision and technical wizardry with Gage members and audiences. While viewing their enigmatic artworks in Small World - Big Ideas, visitors may resonate with Magritte’s famous maxim: Art evokes the mystery without which the world would not exist.
Multicoloured Wheel, photo on cradle board, 6x6 in, 2019
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Past, Present and Future, photo on cradle board, 6x6 in, 2019
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Please contact Haren Vakil at: [email protected] Greg Glover can be reached at [email protected] & gregglover.com The Gage Gallery is located at 2031 Oak Bay Avenue, Victoria, V8R 1E5 250-592-2760 Tuesday to Saturday 11 AM - 5 PM |
Haren Vakil (left) and Greg Glover in Haren's studio, Sept 2019.
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The Opening Reception on Tuesday October 8 was a great success. See photos of the opening below!
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Web Design, Photos and Content by Kate Cino Arts writer published in Focus, Yam and Boulevard. 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. Written permission is required for reproduction of photos or text. [email protected] 250 598-4009 |
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