Group Exhibition - ‘Palmae’ - Paris, France
SHOW ON NOW
I’m pleased to have been invited by MAAT Gallery in Paris France to participate in a group show. Entitled Palmae, it runs from February 1st to March 1st 2025 and include works by Tega Akpokona, Martin Solymar, Jiri Hauschka, and myself. I look forward to visiting the show in person during the last week of February. Any excuse to visit Paris is a good one and I will be travelling there following a brief trip to Berlin for the opening of another group show I am participating in called ‘Ethereal’ at Kristin Hjellegjerde Gallery. (Feb 21st - March 22nd)
In my previous career as an Art Director, my work took me to a number of tropical locations around the world including Mexico, the Seychelles, and Hawaii. The four paintings included in Palmae were created specifically in response to the concept of ‘Tropical’ as a personal diary of my memories of time spent in various tropical locations in the world. They are:
AFTERPARTY
I find that there is a bittersweet aspect to tropical places. For all their incredible beauty, right beneath the exotic surface lies decay and an unkempt sadness to the landscape which has been torn apart by both human and atmospheric storms. This painting is my love song to the memory of being swept up in the romance of such places, but then seeing it with fresh eyes once I awaken to the reality of life there.
AFTERPARTY | oil on canvas | 132.5cm x 158cm | 2025
BENDING THE TRUTH
As climate change occurs, many of the most vulnerable places on earth are the tropical regions. Collectively we try to ignore or explain away the trauma, and nestle into our false sense of security while very much knowing that the next big storm is on its way and chances of stopping it are slim. These places are often islands, close to the sea, economically limited, and mostly powerless to protect themselves, without shelter from the devastating changes. These places seem to bend in resilience, but can they continue to cope? The palm tree holds a special place within my heart and head; it is a symbol of this resilience.
BENDING THE TRUTH | oil on canvas | 120cm x 120cm | 2025
FESTIVE TIDES
The palette of the tropics is naturally celebratory. Its abundance is the music of joy. These colours are happiest where the sea meets the shore, under the shifting shadows of a palm tree. This fluid party is an offering and ours to appreciate if we can slow down and enjoy it. I wanted to capture the essence of that happy expression of nature and project it off the canvas.
FESTIVE TIDES | oil on canvas | 115cm x 107cm | 2025
THE QUEST
This piece is a response to a journey through a tropical jungle, in search of the perfect vision of paradise. There are challenges to overcome and unknown obstacles lurking, but there is a thrill to the task of exploration and discovery.
THE QUEST | oil on canvas | 100cm x 90cm | 2025
ABOUT MAAT GALLERY
MAĀT Gallery is a contemporary art gallery and artist residency located in Le Marais district in Paris. The gallery has been founded in February 2023 by Paul William, the co-founder and ex co-owner of Nil Gallery Paris. Although the gallery is working with a diverse range of international artists, it has a close tie with Western African artists.