Wednesday, Sep 11, 2013
Dubai: Art lovers can now find a little piece of Canada in Dubai with the launch of Opera Gallery’s new collaborative exhibition featuring renowned Canadian artists Johanne Corno, Rock Therrien and Sylvain Tremblay.
The exhibition, which opened on September 10 at the Opera Gallery, Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), brings together the work of three artists who reflect diversity, passion and energy in modern Canadian art.
“This exhibition by the renowned Opera Gallery is a celebration of the increasing cultural ties between Canada and the UAE and of the strength of the growing Dubai and UAE art scene,” said Arif Lalani, Canada’s Ambassador to the UAE, who hosted the launch.
He added that while Dubai is often thought of as the financial centre of the region, the city is also increasingly starting to become an arts and culture hub.
“It’s a powerful story here in Dubai and it is a story that Canadians want to be a part of,” he said.
New Dubai resident and one of the artists featured in the exhibition, Tremblay, told Gulf News he was excited that art lovers in the UAE were going to see his work.
“It’s always interesting to have a new set of eyes looking at my paintings and to have people share how they feel about my work,” he said.
He added that listening to people’s different views helps him choose his subjects and create his paintings in new ways.
“I think of it as like a school and I am the student,” he said.
Tremblay said that his abstract work, which includes glossy textures, carries a theme that mainly focuses on humans and is left to the viewer’s interpretation.
“I emphasise my subject so that you can feel it come to you but at the same time you can’t really define it — the idea behind it is humans passing through time as if they were timeless,” he said.
The artist, who has exhibited across the world, from New York to Singapore, Shanghai, Hong Kong and Seoul to London and Brussels has also previously shown at several Dubai galleries.
Tremblay took part in ‘Canada Week’ in 2012. He said he also spent three months in Dubai working with students from the Canadian University of Dubai and understanding the culture and art scene in the UAE.
“I like to discover new ways to approach my paintings and now I’m living here I am looking to integrate the Middle East into my work,” he added.
Corno’s work is on permanent display in Opera Gallery’s ten branches across the world. She uses textured colours and bold brushstrokes. Her portraiture invokes daring statements which are particularly visible throughout her series of Marilyn Monroe abstracts.
Self-taught artist Therrien’s paintings are inspired from his daily life. He uses a characteristic curve technique to represent people, places and situations, and draws circular motifs to represent life on canvas.
“I paint for the joy of it, for amusement, but far removed from being simply an entertaining activity — my art allows me to express an idea, sometimes a message, most often a thought,” he said.
The exhibition runs until September 24.
By Jumana Khamis ?Staff Reporter
Gulf News 2013. All rights reserved.
