James Lumsden: Resonance

×

Expand

James Lumsden, "Reflex(2/18)," 2018

acrylic on canvas, 47.25" x 47.25"

Opening: 2:00 - 5:00 pm, Saturday, May 19, 2018

“I aim to make paintings which are luminous, seductive, sensual and atmospheric. I am fascinated in how raw materials, innate to the medium, can be turned into something poetic – an object filled with light, feeling, atmosphere and emotion.”

James Lumsden is concerned with process – he builds translucent glazes of paint, until an illusion of light and depth are achieved. The process involves the application of multiple (up to 40 or more) thin glazes of acrylic paint and gloss medium. Each layer is dragged, pulled or squeegeed with various implements – the process being repeated layer upon layer until the final painting begins to emerge. Varying chromatic strata can be seen through the translucence, pentimenti and depth of the work.

These are paintings which draw the viewer beneath the surface to give some experience of their making – both revealing and concealing the history of the painting process. The paintings are set within a distinct formal compositional framework. Although the horizontal division creates allusions to landscape, this is primarily a device to heighten the dynamic, contrasts, tension and intensity of the painting.

The Edinburgh artist is recognized with many awards, notably, The Hope Trust Award in 1992, 1993, and 2003, the EDAC award in 1992, the EVAAC award in 2000 and 2002, the Arts Trust Award of Scotland in 2000, the Scottish International Education Trust award in 1996 and awards from the Scottish Arts Council in 2000, 2002, and 20006. Lumdsen’s painting are exhibited throughout the United Kingdom, New York and Calgary. His work is featured in significant corporate and private collections.

The artist will attend the opening.