IN SITU IN SITU IN SITU IN SITU IN SITU IN SITU IN SITU

An exhibition of contemporary abstract art made especially for the National Gallery of Seychelles

PRESS RELEASE

July 23^rd 2024

From the Latin meaning ‘in position’, the title of this exhibition refers to the fact that the principal large format works (12 in all) will all have been created inside the gallery, during the period July 22^nd – August 20^th

Five artists will create non-figurative paintings ranging in sizes up to 3 metres x 1.8 metres. Curator Martin Kennedy stated that some works would have been even larger but for the height restrictions in the gallery. He also referred to the American Abstract Expressionism movement, which dominated western art in the 1940’s and early 1950s, and which has influenced the artists exhibiting in this exhibition. “You can see the impact upon our artists of paintings made by Mark Rothko and other abstract painters of that era, both in terms of palette, technique and scale,” he said.

Three of the artists are ‘established’ in that they exhibit regularly within and outside Seychelles; Kipau, Zsaklin Miklos and Jude Ally (whose work is currently being exhibited at the Venice Biennale). They are joined by two emerging and talented artists from the Seychelles Institute of Art and Design (SIAD), Angela Marzorcchi and Hyara Louys. The inclusion of young Seychellois artists is one of the principles which guides the selection of exhibition participants at the National Gallery. Executive Director of the Creative Seychelles Agency (which oversees the gallery), Emmanuel D’offay, stated that exhibitions are decided by a committee which considers the promotion of Seychelles art alongside international work – with local exhibitions occurring twice as frequently as international shows. “It’s essential that our National Gallery, the most important exhibition space in the country, showcases local contemporary work, but we also need to exhibit work from outside Seychelles which can inform and inspire Seychellois artists,” he said. “Exhibiting young and emerging artists is also a priority for us, as long as the quality of the work is appropriate.”

The paintings which constitute ‘In Situ’ have been planned, improvised and executed on the (heavily protected) floor of the gallery, with canvases sponsored by Vijay Construction and the British High Commission. The key element is of course the paint, and once again Penlac has stepped up to donate the large quantities of acrylic required.

There is no theme for this exhibition, and no restrictions other than that the works have to be pure abstractions painted onto canvas. The artists are encouraged to use non-conventional tools to apply and manipulate the paint. Such paintings can often evolve from a less specific concept than would be the case in, say, a portrait or landscape painting, and improvisation and experimentation have always been significant elements of the creative energy driving abstract works.

Non-figurative work can alienate and confuse some viewers and it is hoped that this exhibition will serve to inform and entertain audiences used to seeing figurative compositions which feature elements recognisable from the ‘real world’.

Because the artists exhibiting at the National Gallery reference aesthetic considerations prevalent more than eighty years ago, it is important to place the ‘In Situ’ exhibition within the context of influences – influences which have been exorcised by the five contemporary artists through their practice. Within abstract expressionism we find two broad groupings: the so-called action painters, who attacked their canvases with expressive brush strokes; and the colour field painters who filled their canvases with large areas of a single colour. We can see the influence of both cohorts in the work produced for this exhibition.

Kipao’s 2022 Eden Art Space exhibition prompted the following observation;

(The artist’s) final compositions are extraordinary compressions of movement, colour and energy, with the canvases invariably worked on horizontally with brushes large and small, rollers, spatulas, sticks and hands…..the foundation of the work is creative integrity. In the broadest sense Kipao ‘means it’ – he is a serious artist – there is passion in his brush strokes, which are emphatic, confident and gestural, almost explosive at times, but also holding the capacity for calm and a balanced stillness.

Kipao is contributing four canvases to this exhibition.

Jude Ally, one of our most important Seychellois artists, creates layered canvases of great subtlety and beauty, at times deploying bright primary colours, but more often using softer and more delicate combinations of hue and form. His work at the 2020 Seychelles Biennale as well as his video, installation and painted pieces currently on show in Venice, confirm his importance as a constantly evolving and risk-taking artist.

Ally is contributing four canvases to the exhibition.

Kipau and Ally are also collaborating on one single canvas, fusing their approaches in collegiality and mutual respect. As far as we know this is the first time that two such artists will work together on one single art work, in the way that Andy Warhol and Jean-Michel Basquiat created a series of joint works in the 1980s.

Zsaklin Miklos produces two main streams of work, the first bright, almost graphic images of iconic Seychelles – sections of forests mainly painted ‘Fauvist style’ in non-naturalistic colours which, regardless, convey a strong sense of place.

But it is her second string that features in the ‘In Situ’ show, with large soft geometric compositions which reference Rothko directly whilst taking his signature style to new compositional formats – particularly when it comes to surface textures.

Miklos is contributing two canvases to the exhibition.

SIAD students Angela and Hyara will create one canvas each and will work intuitively and – in the best spirit of abstract painting – imaginatively, with respect for the materials, and with an open and experimental approach to mark-making. Their works will be supported by a selection of small non-figurative works created by diploma students at SIAD.

There will also be a selection of small works made by the three main exhibiting artists.

All of the works will be for sale.

‘In Situ’ opens with an invitation-only vernissage on Friday August 23^rd 2024, and will close on Saturday October 5^th.

Accompanying photographs show: