Newsday,
Friday
27 June 2008
by Anne Hilton
Joie de Vivre at In 2 Art
Beauty in the Everyday is Jonathan Guy-Gladding’s intent as he paints the people and places in his adopted homeland of St Lucia. In his artist’s statement for “Joie de Vivre”, his latest exhibition in Trinidad that opened with a Private View at “In 2 Art” on Monday, June 23, he writes “One does not have to look far to see the ugliness and tragedy in life”. He believes that beauty in the ordinary enriches life.
Primary schoolgirls are his preferred models, their hair dressed in cane rows or bunches with brightly coloured bows and clips. Guy-Gladding treads a narrow path between impression and photo-realist – and in doing so pleases, as is plain from the number of red dots (indicating sales) beside the pieces on exhibit.
“Poui blossoms” is, perhaps, the best example of a marriage between photo-realist and impressionist; the girls, the blossoms they are holding are sharply defined, the grass, rock and flowers of the field are merely hinted at.
Boys take centre stage in “Jetty 1”, skinny, gangly, as only young teenaged boys are; here is little or no hint of impression, all stand out clearly – the jetty, the ‘lime’ above, the lads diving, climbing out, and those in the water, all exult in their youth, energy, growing strengths.
At first sight “Kezia” seems to belie the theme “Joie de Vivre” she appears sad with her red-rimmed, tearful eyes, drooping head, pouting lips but a certain tristesse is all part of growing up that has its own appeal as one remembers the passing pains and pangs of youth.
Apart from the young schoolgirl, “Passage of Time” is, to all intents and purposes, photo-realist, down to the shoelaces of the man on the left, the goods on the shelves in the parlour, the rotting galvanise; only the schoolgirl gives life and light to the piece – although I did wonder what happened to her right arm?
“Red and White Boat” is a restful landscape, the sea almond, the boat and the coconut palms dominate while the village? beach huts? cabanas? and hillside are mere suggestions, a backdrop to the beach and the boat itself.
Who knows what the three little girls are looking, or waiting for as they stand at the water’s edge. To view this piece, be it in a gallery, an office, or home in the city, the bright yellow of their skirts, the light on their shirts, elbows, hands lifts the spirits.
Admirers of the abstract in all its various forms may sneer at Jonathan Guy-Gladding’s works, ask why paint the obvious, that the camera does that as well if not better. Nevertheless, seen in the gallery these pieces breathe life and movement, convey moods in their own particular genre.
To see the delightful portraits of youth and tranquil beauty make sure to drop by In 2 Art before “Joie de Vivre”, Jonathan Guy-Gladding’s solo exhibition closes on July 5.
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