PROM PARK AND THE HYTHE AS YOU’VE NEVER SEEN THEM!
George Kowzan’s exhibition of recent paintings opens at The Maeldune Heritage Centre, Maldon on Wednesday 18th October.
Kowzan is an internationally shown artist with works in the UK, Channel Islands, France, Belgium, Denmark, Spain, Antigua and Taiwan.
He previously portrayed the iconic views of Maldon’s Prom Park and The Hythe in his exhibition “Same Place: different eyes”. The works in that exhibition, as the title suggests, challenged the viewer to look in different ways. This new exhibition, “Into Abstraction” has taken him further, producing more instinctive, abstract work.
Interpreting abstract art is a deeply personal and creative process. There is no right or wrong way to do it. The beauty of this art lies in its ability to spark individual imagination. Kowzan’s paintings convey emotions, ideas and concepts rather than depicting specific scenes.
Titles can provide valuable context for interpretation: clues about the artist’s intentions.
“In the summertime when the weather is high, you can stretch right up and touch the sky” has recognisable elements of Prom Park and The Hythe, yet the title gently leads the viewer away from the obvious into another, more ethereal world.
“Prom Park Boogie Woogie”, whilst drawing on memories of habitual walks around the park, is a purely instinctive painting intended to be upbeat and energetic.
“The loneliness of the long distance runner” was inspired by Kowzan’s efforts at the Maldon Parkrun on Saturday mornings. Concentrating on reaching his target, looking down to avoid tree roots and thinking of anything other than the remaining distance, he is able to enter a different reality.
“Hello darkness, my old friend, I’ve come to speak with you again” has no specific location. It evokes a sense of solitude and contemplation that many late night and early morning walkers along The Prom would recognise.
“And the reeds gossip in hushed tones” is another instinctive painting born from the sound of wind brushing past the reeds. Or does it suggest village tittle-tattle?
There’s so much to see and to think about in the bold, bright riot of colour that takes us “Into Abstraction”.
Everybody is invited to enjoy home-made tapas and drinks, and a chat with the artist on Friday 20th October from 5 until 7.30pm.
