May 2013 Exhibitions

Showing 4th May - 1st June 2013

Private view - Friday 3rd May at 6pm

TERENCE O'CONNOR

The work I am showing here is from the last three years, marking a shift in my approach to painting. This is characterized by a tolerance and pleasure in accidentals and ambiguities in the painting process. Some of the imagery that emerges has a sense of the natural world – of rocks and water, of ever -changing skies. Doubtless this is an effect of working on the Atlantic coast of Ireland where weather and sea and geology combine to make human efforts to live off the land quite marginal. Some images come from other places in my psyche or experience. Whatever the origins, my hope is for the paintings to engage viewers’ feelings, as music can, without necessarily demanding explanation.

ELAINE STORER

Born in Glasgow, Elaine painted her first portrait at the age of 15. After travelling over the UK working as a dresser and theatrical wardobe assistant, Elaine moved to Wales where she attended Barry College Art School. Elaine now lives in Spain where she paints and also teaches art to multi-cultural students.

I love to work with every creative medium but my preference is with oil. I especially enjoy painting peoples' portraits but I also love expressionism.

SYLWIA LAKOMA

Sylwia Lakoma was born in Poland and has lived in Bristol since 2008. She has had an interest in art since her youth. After studying various creative mediums at Gdansk Academy of Arts such as theatre, ballet, architecture and painting, she finally made the decision to focus her skills primarily on photography. Her past also informs her present artistic style; 'My theatrical experience is very appropriate, as I draw upon this knowledge and apply it to my photography. I like to act out scenes within my images and they have a feel of drama and magic about them'. 'By using the camera you can fulfill your visions. It is a diary of your life and a profound way of showing yourself, your thoughts,values, dreams and fears'. Sylwia's work can be found in private collections in Poland, Germany, france, Spain and the UK.

DIDIER YAOVI ZINGAN

Didier Yaovi Zingan is a Senegalese artist and painter born in 1985 who uses only plant materials, such as sawdust, to depict his feelings about Africa. He is self-taught since the age of 15 and has gained recognition in Senegal through a number of exhibitions. Passionate about his work, he uses his talent to help others by giving drawing lessons to children. From exhibition to exhibition (Blaise Senghor Cultural Centre in February 2006, Dakar Biennial 2007, ARAD Circle (French association), Restaurants la Croix du Sud and l’Endroit, National Gallery, Dakar) visitors recognise his talent and his originality. Through his art he expresses his unlimited worship of the bewitching nature of passion, of relationships, to fertility, to motherhood. His canvas ‘Precious’ shows a butterfly with large wings held by two breasts, a mechanism which enables it to take flight. Didier Yaovi Zingan invites us on a fantastic voyage within Africa to challenge, to hope then to act. On one of his canvases he has painted a close-up face: an eye, a nose, a mouth. Two people: one white, one black who appear to be encouraging us to get together, to respect each other, to love each other.