Brett Amory: "Internal dialogue" at Lazarides
One can't help but think about our age of human detachment when seeing the works by Brett Amory. This summer, he is back at Lazarides Rathbone with his new solo exhibition, Internal Dialogue.
The California-based artist Brett Amory is best known for his "Waiting" series. His atmospheric canvases explore people in transit, both physical and emotional.
In soft, almost melancholic colours and expressive brushstrokes, everyday people are depicted during their daily commutes. Instead of blending in with their city surroundings, they stand out, distanced from the world around them. "Waiting" explores the anticipation of being somewhere else and, as a result, not being fully present in the moment.
"Internal Dialogue" corresponds with Amory's previous perceptive investigation of the human condition. The new artworks are permeated with the idea of people trying to make sense of their environment. The expressionist style of the works reflects the disjointed moments of our daily lives and how the mind fills in the gaps to connect it all into a linear structure. The artist also comments on the contemporary screen addiction and its influence on our perception of reality, which can be seen in his gradual style evolution.
One of the works in the new exhibition, Homage to Ed, is marked by a striking black "X" across the canvas. This is a tribute to the artist's uncle, the painter Ed Roebuck. In 1981, trying to avoid his work being sold off at auction for debt, Ed entered his gallery and sprayed a series of black "X"s across most of his canvases. However, instead of ruining the works, this sincere expression of frustration became a symbol of feeling shared by many in those uneasy times. Now, several decades later, the viewer is invited to reflect on this parallel.
The whole exhibition is filled with the spirit of reflection and internal discovery. The viewer is invited to use their own observations, perceptions, and dreams to interpret the work in their own way.
