No man is an Island...

...but his creative work can be. Running for three weeks this December, Ian Rolls’ ‘Island’ represents the coastal landscape of Jersey that most will be very familiar with and fond of, with Rolls saying he found these locations a stable platform of familiarity and comfort at a time when his own emotional landscape was changing.

The ‘Island’ exhibition is about identity. The identity of Jersey but also our own identity that is partly shaped by our Island home. Rolls believes that the identity of any location depends not on the place, but on the observer. We all have our own viewpoint of the world, but art provides a unique portal to occasionally we see it through the eyes of another; who can visit Arles and not see it through the eyes of Vincent van Gogh?

This series of oil paintings is conceived as one big artwork, made up of a number of small artworks of the same size, style and technique. Each piece is essentially a patchwork of coloured islands on a black background. Each one is very simple and stylised, but they all represent a place to which we will bring our own associations.

Of the exhibition, the artist Ian Rolls, said: “This show consists of 42 oil paintings of the coast of the Island, but the series is conceived as one big artwork with many layers; a farewell to my mum, a connection to my past, a search for identity, an emotional therapy, a new way of seeing familiar things and a leisurely walk around the Island. The paintings represent the way I see the Island at this particular time, or maybe want to see it, through the distorted prism of a more playful, innocent and optimistic vision. It was a huge privilege to be given the opportunity to have this exhibition at Capital House. I have worked closely with ArtHouse Jersey over many years and I want to publicly thank the team for firmly establishing Jersey on the wider cultural map and helping to improve the lives of many through creativity.”

Ian Rolls ‘Island’

Arthouse Jersey at Capital House Opens 9th December.

Make it a party.

To help celebrate the opening of the exhibition there will be a very special evening of music & art with Blues star Giles Robson and very special guest, vocalist Robin Kapsalis. The live music will take place within the exhibition at ArtHouse Jersey at Capital House between 6pm and 8pm on Friday 9 December. Tickets are available to purchase via Eventbrite and cost £20+ booking fee.