Abu Dhabi-based British artist Matt McCobb invites viewers to “take a ride down the oily way’ (as the song by Gong goes) into a bright and beautiful world of his imagination in his latest show, “Oily Way”.
“I am a firm believer in the traditional medium of oil painting on canvas. Many contemporary artists have moved away from this medium and are experimenting with new techniques and materials in the hope of creating an original style. But I feel that oil painting is timeless and offers millions of opportunities for artists to express themselves in new ways,” he says.
McCobb’s paintings are full of vivid colours and infused with positive emotions. The artist takes inspiration from nature and everyday life to depict lush green meadows with flowers of different colours, sunny skies, cityscapes inspired by Abu Dhabi’s distinctive skyline, and the mysterious planets and galaxies in space. His still life paintings of pots and jugs also come alive with vibrant colours.
“I am passionate about vibrant colours, balanced composition and flowing forms. The subjects I choose are not so important. They are just tools for experimenting with colour and form. I take inspiration from my surroundings, but I always try to look at the bright side of things. I believe that painting is like music — the possibilities are endless, but the trick is to find your own unique way of playing. As an artist my aim is to create balanced and harmonious compositions that resonate with viewers,” he says.
Besides oil paintings on canvas, the artist is also exhibiting some paintings on panels and wooden board. “I have been developing a new concept for paintings to be hung outdoors. The idea came to me when I saw the empty boundary walls of villas in Abu Dhabi. I saw the walls as empty canvases, and started thinking of ways to convert them into works of art. I know that murals would not work because people here tend to move home quite often, and they would have to leave the mural behind when they moved. Paintings were the best alternative, so I started doing paintings on panels and wooden boards, where in addition to oil paints I have used exterior grade paints, varnishes and resins,” he says.
The artist, who moved from Liverpool in England to Abu Dhabi two years ago, teaches art. He has transformed his house in Abu Dhabi into an art gallery where all artists are welcome to exhibit their work. He also runs an art leasing service.
“The idea behind this initiative is to provide all art lovers with the opportunity to be surrounded by art and also to encourage new collectors and new artists,” he says.
The show will run at Baginskaya Gallery, JLT until January 17
Jyoti Kalsi is an arts enthusiast based in Dubai.
Eastern Fragrance
Majlis Gallery is continuing its 25th anniversary celebrations with a show by well-known artist Louis Jansen Van Vuuren. Since its inception, the gallery has focused on travelling artists, showcasing their interpretations of the places they have visited. Van Vuuren’s first solo show in the UAE, “Eastern Fragrance”, is also influenced by his travels to Dubai and other places in the East.
The artist was born in 1949 in South Africa and now lives in a chateau in France. He had his first exhibition at the age of 17 and has since displayed his work in major cities around the world. He is known for exploring themes of interior and exterior views through a window, often focusing on exotic architecture and landscapes in foreign destinations to which he has travelled.
In this show, he has focused on the subject of “the enchanted garden”. His realistic paintings feature flowers, birds, bees and exotic ripe fruits such as figs and pomegranates. His detailed depiction of the intricate designs on tea cups and the rich colourful Ottoman patterns in the background evoke an Eastern flavour in the artworks.
The artist usually works with pastels, but this show also includes some oil paintings. Many of the works are executed on a gesso ground, which gives them a fresco-like quality. Besides being visually beautiful, the paintings also have a spiritual quality. They speak about the beauty of nature as well as the unseen force that created it.
“Since childhood I have had the irrepressible urge to paint and document everything around me. I paint because I have no other choice. It is a part of my vocabulary and my language as a communicating being. I paint to describe what I see, what I feel and what I think about. For me, art and life are intimately linked and inseparable; and to be able to interpret my personal vision through colour and feeling is the ultimate in creative happiness for me,” van Vuuren says.
The show will run at Majlis Gallery until January 16, 2015
