Artistic Expressions Of Colour

Three Singapore-based Australian artists have merged their different forms of art in a journey of exploration and redefinition of the notions of colour. Abstract artist Robyn Saurine, photographer Gordon Carlyle, and singer-songwriter Peter Fogarty is currently jointly holding an aptly titled exhibition – “Colourful Expressions”.

It showcases vivid abstract and edgy artworks that portray divergent perspectives with an avid focus on their love of colour, and how the different hues drive each of their art styles and media in varying ways.

“I’ve always loved colour,” said Saurine. “When I was younger I started expressing this interest through hair colours… (literally)” Now she pushes the limits in a different way – by exploring the world of texture, colour and collage to create paintings that are primarily texture experimental in mixed media and acrylic; and which are often accomplished with no expectations of the direction a piece will willfully take or where it will end.

The results are darker and textured multi-media pieces that explore personal experiences such as missed opportunities and the beauty of travel.

Take her ‘Mesmerize Me’, which uses multi-hued bold lines to express movement and the varied experiences that come from travel. Their gentle flow as they wind round each other shows how one trip affects the next place she visits, even though the new adventure is never quite the same as the previous journey: and that, despite having this realization, she continues to expect to be as mesmerized by the new destination.

On the other hand, Saurine’s ‘Lion’ is a play of somber shades that permits vivid bursts of lively yellows and pale blues to break through. It succinctly serves as an affectionately heart-felt tribute to a friend who had committed suicide after losing his constant struggle with depression: despite the constant doom and gloom cast over his mind and soul, he was, to her, still very much a lion at heart.

In ‘Bewildered’, Saurine cleverly works into her piece of art streaks of yellow in ways that successfully keeps her textured band of fiery red from blending into a choppy sea of serene blue. Thus personifying the way we often live our lives: keeping things separated in our own minds so that we will not become overwhelmed with the daily pressures of life.

Gordon Carlyle’s photographs use fiery molten colours to portray the natural landscapes in Australia in thought-provoking and inspirational ways. And he is compelled to do so as he “would like people to see both the simplicity and complexity of the natural world and how it can be presented in a way that is somewhat abstract without losing its inherent beauty.”

Examples of the accomplished outcomes are his landscape shots in Walker Flat in South Australia: his ‘Silhouette Over Gold’ captures the endlessly complex branching of native bush outlined against vibrantly orange-gold cliffs, evoking a profound sense of determined reaching out for yet more and more.

His ‘Blue and Gold’ accentuates the creeping azure waters as it speeds pass the golden flow of reflected sunlight; all silently watched by river posts as they stand like sentries warding off lurking danger.

Then there is Carlyle’s ‘Twisted Gold’: it captures the twisted reflections of sea green reeds in Glen Helen Gorge in the Northern Territory’s West MacDonnell Ranges. They define how abstract nature itself can actually become and so perplex even the most brilliant of minds; making them muse upon and expound what reality is really.

We can, therefore, not deny his deceptively lucid shots provide a feast for our eyes of divergent styles and radiant colours that challenge us to admire nature in novel ways. Then we should not be amazed that Carlyle’s byline for his modus operandi is “there is always another perspective” to finding the abstract in the natural world. This he frequently achieves through his off road motorcycle riding, with a decided preference for remote and unusual locations.

Musician Peter Fogarty believes that he portrays energetic hues through his music as “colour is life. Colour occurs in all forms of art, be it visual or aural. The colour and texture of what we perceive is what gives our lives reference”.

Not surprisingly, we catch the dull dark grey shades of sadness in his ‘Thoughts in the Shadows’ as he croons that he is “sitting here like thoughts in the shadows. The sound of the wind reminds (him) of you: no where to go and no way to get there. In the end it’s all for you – restless like water; time moves in circles…”

While the grayish hues lighten up with perfume-scented recollections in Fogarty’s ‘Circus’ as “by the time the circus leaves, all that’s left are memories: dampened grass upon the ground, where the tent had been put down. On the bench holding our hands, looking endlessly out (to) sea, (he) still remember(s) you…”

Fogarty plays these 2 doleful songs with rich tones in a definitive fashion that is very much lo-fi folk; very much reminiscent of the folk rock blend of Neil Young and Eddie Veder. As with these, his music is all about love, life and loss as he travels ever so frequently either doing gigs in Australia or in the capacity of an IT professional for a large global corporation. Each poignantly sung in his very own unique honest and emotional way.

Experience this trio from the land down under at Kooka Café, at 18 Purvis Street, Singapore 188597. The variedly colour-packed exhibition ends 29 September this year.

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