ALEXANDER McKENZIE Escape to the Palmeraie
ALEXANDER McKENZIE Escape to the Palmeraie 12 November - 6 December 2020
© Martin Browne Contemporary © All images copyright Alexander McKenzie This catalogue is copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purposes of private study, research, criticism or review as permitted under the Copyright Act, no part may be reproduced by any process without written permission. COMPILER: Ally Russell-Floyd PHOTOGRAPHY: Stephen Oxenbury COLOUR SEPARATIONS: Spitting Image, Sydney Cover Image: Escape to the Palmeraie, 2020, oil on linen, 168 x 183 cm
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Escape to the Palmeraie Early in 2020 I flew to Morocco to rest, re-invigorate and re-inspire myself with a change of landscape and surrounds. The famous gardens of Marrakesh were my destination – places that I hoped would provide me with inspiration for the series of works that I intended to make.
LIST OF WORKS
Juliet’s return, 2020, oil on linen, 153 x 137 cm Setting out a garden, 2020, oil on linen, 153 x 137 cm Jacque’s garden, 2020, oil on linen, 153 x 137 cm
As it turned out, the idea of escaping to an imagined and idealised place took on a new and much more loaded meaning for me as COVID-19 broke out just as I returned to Australia. My apprehension and experience of this new pandemic-struck world meant my journeys in Morocco became more Arcadian, more symbolic, and more meaningful to me, as I recalled this time before the virus that has come to define this year.
Out of the palms in search for silver, 2020, oil on linen, 183 x 267 cm Le palmier, 2020, oil on linen, 153 x 137 cm Pink palm suite, 2020, oil on linen, 153 x 244 cm Wisdom in the garden of Eden, 2020, oil on linen, 167 x 224 cm
Making the paintings allowed me to return again and again, not only to the gardens and landscape of palms and pools, vast skies and the warm brickwork all painted up in Marrakesh red, but to a state of mind free from the thoughts of 2020.
Romeo’s courtyard, 2020, oil on linen, 153 x 137 cm
These works re-interpret the gardens of the Koutoubia, the Menara, la Mamounia and Jacques Majorelle.
Palace of palms, 2020, oil on linen, 122 x 183 cm
I love the infinite variety of palms and cactus, the justaposition of the wild and the manicured, and the constant changing colours of the Morroccan landscape. As I am painting them, I am transported. I can, at least in my mind, escape to the Palmeraie.
Lyre et lyre, 2020, oil on linen, 122 x 122 cm
Alexander McKenzie
Nights at Mamounia, 2020, oil on linen, 153 x 244 cm Beginners guide to palms, 2020, oil on linen, 167 x 167 cm
Le jardin des palmiers, 2020, oil on linen, 122 x 122 cm
Escape to the Palmeraie, 2020, oil on linen, 168 x 183 cm
Juliet’s return, 2020 Oil on linen,153 x 137 cm
Setting out a garden, 2020, oil on linen, 153 x 137 cm
Jacque’s garden, 2020, Oil on linen,153 x 137 cm
Out of the palms in search for silver, 2020 Oil on linen, 183 x 267 cm
Le palmier, 2020 Oil on linen, 153 x 137 cm
Pink palm suite, 2020 Oil on linen, 153 x 244 cm
Wisdom in the garden of Eden, 2020 Oil on linen, 167 x 224 cm
Romeo’s courtyard, 2020 Oil on linen, 153 x 137 cm
Nights at Mamounia, 2020 Oil on linen, 153 x 244 cm
Beginners guide to palms, 2020 Oil on linen,167 x 167 cm
Palace of palms, 2020 Oil on linen,122 x 183 cm
Le jardin des palmiers, 2020 Oil on linen,122 x 122 cm
Lyre et lyre, 2020 Oil on linen,122 x 122 cm
Escape to the Palmeraie, 2020 Oil on linen,168 x 183 cm