April 5 through May 31, 2014
Opening Reception: Saturday, April 5, 7-10PM
Bermudez Projects is proud to present “Striking at Wind,” a new series of paintings by Vancouver-based artist Johnny Taylor.
Taylor, whose method of internalizing his traditional urban surroundings through high-impact, physical exploration, such as running and the balcony-leaping, railing-hurdling sport known as parcours, has taken a new approach to producing his sophisticated, heavily-layered modern landscapes. Over the course of one year, Taylor immersed himself in the natural environment of Fraser Canyon, resulting in a dozen oil and wax paintings reminiscent of Chinese calligraphy and Japanese scroll paintings.
“Removed from my Vancouver home – (surrounded by) old-growth trees and (the sound) of the Fraser River – I am guided by the vitality and truth of nature’s creation,” states Taylor. “Light changes throughout the day and the mood changes with the weather. Its presence and patterns has formed a (new) imprint.”
Although the artist’s process has not changed, his approach to this series has taken a subtle shift, presenting the use of more simplified forms, a restrained palette, and calligraphic mark-making, along with a varied use of brushstrokes.
“I am drawn to the work of the classic Chinese and Japanese painters, observing their approach to balance, rhythm, and structure – combining this with what I observe in the scenery around me,” adds Taylor.
Representing the ever-changing seasons, the paintings serve as a modern manuscript, a visual journal of the artist’s transition from the hard-edged, fast-paced existence of city-life towards a more Zen-like, meditative awakening. The multiple elements of Eastern philosophy, Asian history, Taoism and Bushido mingle with Taylor’s keen aesthetic and skillful hand. What emerges is a breathtaking fusion of the pulse of nature and the ancient language of painting.
Johnny Taylor (b. 1973) was a Merit Scholarship Candidate for the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. He currently lives and works in Vancouver, British Columbia.
Work by the artist is held in private and public collections both nationally and abroad. “Striking at Wind” is the artist’s second solo exhibit at Bermudez Projects. The artist has been featured in several group shows, including “SPACELAND” (2012), Los Angeles, among others. He has been featured in various publications, including Scout Magazine, the Vancouver Observer, and Artweek.LA.
