Duncan Regehr: The Journey

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Duncan Regehr, "Goliath," 2021

oil and mixed media on wood panel, 30" x 36"

Duncan Regehr: The Journey

Opening Reception: March 3rd at 5 - 8 pm.  Artist will be in attendance.

Artist Statement: THE JOURNEY

We tend to look upon our lives, our journeys, as a series of connected episodes. The activities of daily life are not generally recognized as being important to the path of destiny, however, when we experience an impactful moment, be it one of coincidence, karma, epiphany, a reckoning of bliss or tragedy, we become aware that we are always at the threshold of destiny.

Each painting of the Journey series conveys a specific moment that is a representation of an inner journey. Whether it is a journey of fate, a dream journey or a metaphysical journey, subjects are travellers on their way from one place to another or have arrived at a crucial moment of destiny.

Many of the works draw upon the power of a single figure navigating a broad landscape; as in “Shelter”, which isolates a woman caught in a storm, or “Sancho”, in which a child envisions his future quest. “Journey” features a lone woman running with a suitcase across a vast plain. Environments are spare, as are the figures, which through their ambiguity invite diverse interpretation. Complex layers of oil pigment and mixed media were used to render the paintings.

Stance, placement, clothing and proximity to others reveal the subjects’ objectives and state of being. In several paintings the juxtaposition of two figures serves to anchor deeper perspective for both narrative and composition. For example, “Headlong” portrays the foreground figure of a contemporary young woman riding a bicycle at top speed and in the distance, a mature male figure is leisurely perched upon an old-time penny-farthing.

A similar perspective is achieved in “Theseus”. The Minotaur occupies the foreground, slouching in a tuxedo, addressing the viewer with a look of c’est la vie and in the background, Theseus, dressed in bowler hat and business suit, strides toward the empty horizon.

The series includes works that relate to epic journeys from myth, history and the classics: “Helen” from The Iliad and “Circe” from The Odyssey. “Goliath” offers a radical view of the iconic character and his status in the well-known story, re-defining the climax of his journey. “Hannibal” alludes not only to the Carthaginian conqueror that traversed the Alps with his war elephants, but invites us to contemplate some of our current global crises.

Likewise with “Prometheus”, the Titan deemed ‘The Father of Forethought’, who undertook a risky journey to steal fire from the Gods, which he then gave to humans along with art and science. The painting reveals him in a more modern and portentous setting.

“Icarus”, the tragic adventurer who flew too close to the sun, is presented as a boy chasing a paper airplane, always just beyond his reach.

Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go. ~ T. S. Eliot

Every time I start a new painting I embark on a journey. It is expressive exploration, a journey to discover and understand what it is I’m looking for...

Quest

Evidence grown old could never lead me here,

to fall upon the face of land, replace with my hand, the will that would mold footprints, gardens, graves in this sand.

Now smooth,

how still,

how perfectly sand.

Passage erases all tracks of itself; Chronicle blazes no ground, without trace it is buried here, buried here to be found.

~ DR

The Journey paintings carry themes that are often mysterious. They evoke narratives that continue beyond those of the pictures or any intent that I wished to convey. Later thoughts and feelings about the work inevitably lead to another journey.

~ Duncan Regehr