The Artist – September 2023
English | 106 pages | pdf | 325.14 MB
Welcome at The Artist Magazine September 2023 Issue
For anyone interested in understanding more about the thinking and processes behind successful abstract painting I can highly recommend a visit to the Turner Contemporary in Margate, Kent, to
view the current exhibition of the work of Brazilian artist Beatriz Milhazes, widely recognised as one of the leading abstract artists working today (on show in the Turner Contemporary galleries until September 10, 2023; or if you’re unable to visit, you can view examples of her work on the internet). I was bowled over by her large-scale, vibrant, colourful paintings, full of joyful exuberance and energy, revealing the influence of Matisse, Sonia Delaunay and Kandinsky, amongst others.
The exhibition is the perfect size, not too extensive to make the experience overwhelming, but large enough to display the evolution of her artistic approach and processes, chronologically, in five separate rooms. In her early paintings Milhazes used collage and her ‘monotransfer’ technique, which she continues to use today, in which she draws and paints her own motifs before transferring these to her canvas. Describing her artistic process as a ‘chain reaction’ to new colours, elements, motifs or influences, one of my favourites, O Leme (2002) shows the influence of Bridget Riley in Milhazes’ inclusion of vibrant stripes of colour layered with concentric discs and alternating colours, creating a kaleidoscopic effect typical of Riley’s optical abstractions. Collages including found materials from her everyday life and travels, such as sweet and chocolate wrappers, branded packaging, tissues and silkscreened papers all feature in later works, creating the sense of a kind of personal journal.
The use of circles is integral to the dynamism of Milhazes’ layered compositions, which are skilfully balanced but still with a sense of spontaneity and movement. She incorporates natural forms in her work, reflecting her interest in how nature is portrayed in the decorative and applied arts and, in evoking the natural world, her beautiful paintings, like nature, have an enriching and restorative effect on the viewer. This is breathtakingly epitomised by the Sunley Window installation O Esplendor, which frames the view from the gallery entrance hall to the coastal view beyond, transforming the space with colour and light in a similar way to Matisse’s windows created for Chapelle du Rosaire de Vence, France. I loved it, so thank you Beatriz Milhazes for such a positive and uplifting experience.
Meanwhile, and as always, this month’s artist-contributors have helped to pack this magazine issue with more inspiration, demonstrations, ideas, tips and techniques to help improve your confidence and draw and paint successfully in all media. If there’s anything missing, let us know and we’ll do our best to include this in future issues.
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