Symbolisms: A review of the group show at Cooper Cole by Darby Milbrath
Toronto, Ontario
October 27, 2017 – December 2, 2017
1. Bruce M. Sherman, Looking Upwards, 2016, Glazed ceramic, 22 x 11.7 x 7.5 in, 2. Bruce M. Sherman, Ladder of Ascending Scale of Perception, 2016 Glazed ceramic, 15.5 x 7 x 7.5 in,
3. Katharina Hoeglinger, Flowers in a vase as butterfly elephant, 2017, 39.4 x 31.5 in
“In this art, scenes from nature, human activities, and all other real world phenomena will not be described for their own sake; here, they are perceptible surfaces created to represent their esoteric affinities with the primordial Ideals.” – Jean Moréas
Symbolisms is a group show working to a tune resonate with the historical art movement of Symbolism. Symbolism bloomed in the late 19th century, stemming from Gothicism and Romanticism while moving away from Naturalism and Realism in Classical art. Using symbols to express the invisible or intangible by means of visible or sensuous representations, it is a form of escapism from earthly time. This new language was a suggestive and nuanced expression of true human emotion, which sought to represent reality as personal, fantastical, erotic, and macabre. Symbolism was a turning away from the world at a time of technological advancement during the industrial revolution, and thrived through many politically disheartening events such as the Dreyfus Affair. The resurgence of symbolist imagery in Contemporary art is telling of our current state of affairs, and the strong desire to go inward, to escape and to make believe.
Highlights of the show include Isabelle Fein’s small, romantically playful paintings, Katharina Hoeglinger’s dreamily fluid still life’s and Rachelle Sawatsky’s wildly morbid expressionist painting.The artists presenting their works at the exhibition include: José Antonio Suaréz Londoño, Tom Allen, Michael Berryhill, Isabelle Fein, Katharina Hoeglinger, Santiago de Paoli, Rachelle Sawatsky and Bruce M. Sherman. Curated by Chris Sharp.
Isabelle Fein, And the funny thing about it, 2017 India ink and oil on canvas 11.8 x 9.5 in
Isabelle Fein, Pfaueninsel, 2017, Oil on board, 11.8 x 9.5 in
Michael Berryhill, Fort Foliage, 2016. Oil on linen, 28.25 x 25 in
Bruce M. Sherman, Figure With Plant, 2017, Glazed ceramic, 25 x 12.5 x 17 in
Bruce M. Sherman, Moving About with an Openess Inside, 2017 Glazed ceramic, 2.2 x 7.4 x 7.4 in
Santiago de Paoli, Luna con luz, 2017, Oil on felt fabric, 20.5 x 17.7 in
Santiago de Paoli, Dos lunas, 2017, Oil on felt fabric, 19.3 x 16.1 in
Rachelle Sawatsky, The Animal Lover’s Guide to Tragedy/The Emotional Person’s Guide to Plot, 2016 Oil and flashe on canvas, 51.5 x 58 in
Symbolisms at Cooper Cole
Symbolisms: A review of the group show at Cooper Cole by Darby Milbrath
Toronto, Ontario
October 27, 2017 – December 2, 2017
“In this art, scenes from nature, human activities, and all other real world phenomena will not be described for their own sake; here, they are perceptible surfaces created to represent their esoteric affinities with the primordial Ideals.” – Jean Moréas
Symbolisms is a group show working to a tune resonate with the historical art movement of Symbolism. Symbolism bloomed in the late 19th century, stemming from Gothicism and Romanticism while moving away from Naturalism and Realism in Classical art. Using symbols to express the invisible or intangible by means of visible or sensuous representations, it is a form of escapism from earthly time. This new language was a suggestive and nuanced expression of true human emotion, which sought to represent reality as personal, fantastical, erotic, and macabre. Symbolism was a turning away from the world at a time of technological advancement during the industrial revolution, and thrived through many politically disheartening events such as the Dreyfus Affair. The resurgence of symbolist imagery in Contemporary art is telling of our current state of affairs, and the strong desire to go inward, to escape and to make believe.
Highlights of the show include Isabelle Fein’s small, romantically playful paintings, Katharina Hoeglinger’s dreamily fluid still life’s and Rachelle Sawatsky’s wildly morbid expressionist painting.The artists presenting their works at the exhibition include: José Antonio Suaréz Londoño, Tom Allen, Michael Berryhill, Isabelle Fein, Katharina Hoeglinger, Santiago de Paoli, Rachelle Sawatsky and Bruce M. Sherman. Curated by Chris Sharp.
Isabelle Fein, And the funny thing about it, 2017 India ink and oil on canvas 11.8 x 9.5 in
Isabelle Fein, Pfaueninsel, 2017, Oil on board, 11.8 x 9.5 in
Michael Berryhill, Fort Foliage, 2016. Oil on linen, 28.25 x 25 in
Bruce M. Sherman, Figure With Plant, 2017, Glazed ceramic, 25 x 12.5 x 17 in
Bruce M. Sherman, Moving About with an Openess Inside, 2017 Glazed ceramic, 2.2 x 7.4 x 7.4 in
Santiago de Paoli, Luna con luz, 2017, Oil on felt fabric, 20.5 x 17.7 in
Santiago de Paoli, Dos lunas, 2017, Oil on felt fabric, 19.3 x 16.1 in
Rachelle Sawatsky, The Animal Lover’s Guide to Tragedy/The Emotional Person’s Guide to Plot, 2016 Oil and flashe on canvas, 51.5 x 58 in
See more from Darby Milbrath HERE.