THE RISING SUN
THE RISING SUN 3 - 28 MARCH 2015 Marcia Page and James Blackie are delighted to invite you to join Max Gimblett in celebrating the opening of his new exhibition, The Rising Sun. At Page Blackie Gallery, from 5:30pm, Tuesday 3 March.
Cover image: THE RISING SUN (detail) 2013 Gesso, acrylic & vinyl polymers, epoxy, oil size, palladium leaf / canvas 40 x 40 x 2 in (1524 x 1524 x 51 mm)
THE ESSENCE
Of all things that serve as inspiration for Gimblett’s painting practice is his search for the spiritual. I rarely understand what someone means when they say that they are a “spiritual person” but it is always been clear to me what Max means when he says this. It is not Max’s ongoing spiritual and philosophical dialogue that offers the truth of his spirituality. Nor is it his inquiry into the nature of existence that his paintings and works on paper seem at first to be possible answers for. It is his total commitment to his art practice that proves everything he believes in is right and true in a single moment of freedom that he is allowed to experience per painting.
Take all the art, movies, and texts he has digested; take all of his travels throughout Europe, India, China, Japan, and the United States; take CG Jung, Joseph Campbell, Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj, Tessu the No Sword Warrior, Willem De Kooning, Hakuin, Clint Eastwood, Jack Dempsey, Sengai Gibbon, and countless other teachers he has been mentored by; Gimblett loads up a Chinese brush with all of this content and approaches a canvas. As soon as that brush hits the picture plane all of the content is in abeyance. There is nothing but Gimblett’s relationship with the infinite.
One brief moment of truth. When the gesture is complete and the brush leaves the painting, two assistants grab its sides and rest it flat on the floor, all of the knowledge and experience comes rushing back. Gimblett successfully suspended his consciousness by way of a brushstroke so he could approach the unknown. I do not know of anyone else who can do this. It is a perfect melting of body, mind, and spirit which I find completely convincing.
Matt Jones, Artist, Brooklyn, New York City
TO CALL AND EVOKE 2013 Gesso, acrylic & vinyl polymers, epoxy, aqua size, palladium leaf / canvas 25 x 25 x 2 in (635 x 635 x 51 mm)
CROWN OF RIVERS 2014 Gesso, acrylic & vinyl polymers, EX-74 resin, water-based size, 18kt lemon gold leaf / canvas 25 x 25 x 2 in (635 x 635 x 51 mm)
BYZANTINE TERRACE 2013 Gesso, acrylic & polymers, epoxy, oil size, Japanese Chartreuse coloured silver leaf, clear acrylic overcoat / canvas 30 x 22 x 2 in (762 x 559 x 51 mm)
IN HIS FULL MAJESTY 2014 Gesso, acrylic & vinyl polymers, EX-74 resin, water-based size, 18kt lemon gold leaf / canvas 15 x 15 x 2 in (381 x 381 x 51 mm)
CLEAR OF EVEN THE FINEST DUST 2014 Gesso, acrylic & vinyl polymers, EX-74 resin, water-based size, 23.75kt rosanoble gold leaf / wood panel 15 x 15 x 2 in (381 x 381 x 51 mm)
THE PALACE AT 4AM 2014 Gesso, acrylic & vinyl polymers, epoxy, oil size, lemon gold leaf, clear acrylic overcoat / canvas 36 x 30 x 2 in (914 x 762 x 51 mm)
WINGED SUNSET TEMPLE 2014 Gesso, acrylic & vinyl polymers, epoxy, oil size, sunrise variegated metal leaf / canvas 48 x 40 x 2 in (1219 x 1016 x 51 mm)
GOLDEN PROMISE 2014 Gesso, resin, gelatin, 23.75kt rosanoble gold leaf / wood panel 40 x 40 x 2 in (1016 x 1016 x 51 mm)
DOTH SUFFER A SEA CHANGE INTO SOMETHING RICH & STRANGE 2014 Gesso, acrylic & vinyl polymers, EX-74 resin, water-based size, 23.75kt rosanoble gold leaf / canvas 70 x 50 x 2 in (1778 x 1270 x 51 mm)
QUEST OF GOLD 2014 Gesso, acrylic & vinyl polymers, EX-74 resin, water-based size, 23.75kt rosanoble gold leaf / canvas 40 x 40 x 2 in (1016 x 1016 x 51 mm)
HIS BRUSH IS ALWAYS CHANGING ME 2014 Gesso, acrylic & vinyl polymers, EX-74 resin, water-based size, 23.75kt rosanoble gold leaf / wood panel 25 x 25 x 2 in (635 x 635 x 51 mm)
TONGUES OF FIRE 2014 Gesso, acrylic & vinyl polymers, resin, water-based size, palladium leaf / canvas 60 x 60 x 2 in (1524 x 1524 x 51 mm)
Back cover image: ORDER OF THE GOLDEN DAWN (detail) 2013 Gesso, acrylic & vinyl polymers, epoxy, aqua size, palladium leaf / canvas 30 x 30 x 2 in (762 x 762 x 51 mm)
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