

25 T H A P R I L 2017 - 25 T H M AY 2017 ARTMOORHOUSE MOOR HOUSE, 120 LONDON WALL LONDON EC2Y5ET
A R C T I C
R E F L E C T I O N S
E X H I B I T I O N O F PAINTING AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY MICHAEL BOURGEOIS AND SASHA GUSOV
25th April 2017 - 25th May 2017 ArtMoorHouse I Moor House, 120 London Wall, London EC2Y5ET Exhibition Curated by: Elisa Martinelli and Avra Alevropoulou Brochure Concept: ArtMoorHouse London All Images © M i c h a e l B o u r g e o i s a n d S a s h a G u s o v “Arctic Reflections” supports Action Against Cancer and 20% of all sale proceeds from the exhibition will be donated to this charity, which is very close to the hearts of both artists.
First published in 2017 by ArtMoorHouse All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by means, electrical, mechanical or otherwise, without first seeking the permission of the copyright owners and publishers. All images in this catalogue are protected by copyright and should not be reproduced without permission of the copyright holder. Details of the copyright holder to be obtained from ArtMoorHouse.©2017 ArtMoorHouse
INTRODUCTION “Arctic Reflections” marks a long awaited collaboration between two talented London based artists, Michael Bourgeois and Sasha Gusov. Having explored different stylistic approaches for many years, they have taken their artistic vision to another level. “Arctic reflections” series is a unique interpretation of Bourgeois’ and Gusov’s inspiration, which comes from their extensive travels in the Arctic region and their love of nature. Bourgeois and Gusov are atypical artists who have lived an eclectic life. They have absorbed disparate cultures and experiences to translate them into a unique artistic language that is evident in their fascinating works. Called by the Daily Telegraph as a photographer with a “sharp eye for a revealing moment and a wry sense of juxtaposition”, Gusov is better known for his books than exhibitions. He shares his reclusive artistic philosophy with Bourgeois and we are more likely to hear about their work in the homes of private collectors. To both of them, their art comes first, with less concern for their public profile than one would expect from a typical prolific artist. “Arctic Reflections” supports Action Against Cancer and 20% of all sale proceeds from the exhibition will be donated to this charity, which is very close to the hearts of both artists.


ABOUT THE WORK Nature has always been one of the greatest sources of my inspiration. The paintings from the “Arctic reflections” series were inspired by the reflections of light off the Arctic ice. They are abstract reflections or impressions of the continuum of colours and energy of the icebergs and ice sheets as they reflect the light under varying conditions. The Arctic colours are multi-faceted and are warm and cold and are made visible by the reflection of sky, sun and moon at various times of the day and night. In order to achieve my artistic vision for this collection, I developed a painting process, which in addition to my own technique, involves laying down of layers of paint and medium to allow colours to pass through the layers. The painting is then often coated with a sprinkling of fine glass frit in order to provide texture and as a final respect to impressionistic sympathies and my own minimalist intentions. This painting process is underpinned by an attempt to give hints of the nature of the Arctic and its unique multi-faceted texture and coloration. The fragile nature of the Arctic ice and its slow release of energy as it melts is a concern that made me want to express both my sense of wonder and fear regarding the Arctic ice.
“The abstract reflections or impressions of the continuum of colours and energy of the icebergs and ice sheets as they reflect the light under varying conditions.”
AR1609 Oil and crystal glass on canvas, 2016 89 x 116 cm




AR1616 Oil and crystal glass on canvas, 2016 81 x 65 cm
AR1710 Oil and crystal glass on canvas, 2017 100 x 81 cm


AR1510 Acrylic on canvas, 2015 55 x 46 cm
AR1511 Gouache and water color on paper, 2015 40 x 30 cm


AR1615 Oil on canvas, 2016 81 x 65 cm


Top left: AR1712 Oil and crystal glass on canvas, 2017 92 x 73 cm Bottom left: AR1612 Oil and crystal glass on canvas, 2016 100 x 81 cm Right: AR1614 Oil and crystal glass on canvas, 2016 116 x 89 cm


Top: AR1610 Oil on canvas, 2016 73 x 92 cm Bottom: AR1611 Oil and crystal glass on canvas, 2016 65 x 81 cm


AR1711 Oil and crystal glass on canvas, 2017 89 x 116 cm


ABOUT THE WORK This exhibition is my first experience of collaboration with another artist. Following my last expedition to the Arctic in 2014, I was completely absorbed by the inspiration from the stunning beauty of nature in this magical part of the world. I feel humbled by Michael’s appreciation of my work and the fact that he approached me with the idea for “Arctic Reflections”. It is always difficult to select the artist’s best works for a show and I look forward to presenting what I believe to be a very special selection of photographs for this collection. When it comes to describing my work, I am a man of few words and I believe that my art speaks for itself.
“My work lets me express how the mix of two cultures and everyday life can be expressed through art and how it works in harmony. I paint my nostalgic view of a world which no longer exists and one which is my home.”


AR LOT II Photography 53 x 70 cm


Top: AR LOT V Photography 53 x 70 cm Bottom: AR LOT III Photography 53 x 70 cm


AF LOT I Photography 53 x 70 cm
Action Against Cancer funds the development of cures for cancer at Imperial College, led by world-renowned oncologist, Professor Justin Stebbing. The groundbreaking programmes that we fund focus on developing new diagnostics and treatments to improve the survival prospects and quality of life for millions of cancer sufferers worldwide. www.aacancer.org
“Arctic Reflections” supports Action Against Cancer and 20% of all sale proceeds from the exhibition will be donated to this charity, which is very close to the hearts of both artists.
 
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