THE FISHERMAN'S DREAM EXHIBITION
Barbican Theatre, Plymouth 12 July - 15 September 2002
The title of the exhibition springs from work completed over the past two years. This work is supported by other paintings exploring associated themes painted before and during this time.
The exhibition has been designed to fit the theatre's space to best advantage. The central themes are found in the main cafe bar area with subthemes grouped in smaller spaces.
For example , the blue paintings are drawn from an obsession with a particular blue - a colour that can draw you into reverie and dream. It can be sea , sky, infinity ( according to Miro) or a depiction of an afterlife. The figures might be witnesses from the past returning .......
The central Fisherman paintings are more local in origin. I live in Cornwall and have found myself associating certain places with a feeling, a mood or a daydream. One particular beach has formed the backdrop for many of these paintings.
The painting entitled " The Fisherman's Dream" brings together the themes of loss and memory. The pose is taken from Etruscan tombs over 2000 years old which I came across in Italy. These tombs would have a likeness of the dead person reclining on the top of the tomb witha scene or significant event in the person' life depicted on the tomb below. The fisherman reclines on the beach, dreaming. He dreams of fish, a shrine, ancient stone circles, lazy days on the beach...It is a portrait of his thoughts and memories - the measure of what we are.
"The Storyteller", " The Blind Fisherman " and similar work require no explanation.
The exhibition also includes other related work :
Portraits
The main paintings in the show are portraits and I have included a number of more traditional portraits. In 1998 I embarked on a period of tuition with Robert Lenkiewicz who has an international reputation. Robert's teaching provided me with a strong foundation on which to develop my own approach.
Schematic Harbours and Architecture
I admire Paul Klee and have done for 20 years. I enjoy the cleanness of the way he translated an idea into concise line and colour.The schematic harbours and pictuers have grown out doodling and daydreams. I've extended this approach to architecture. The main example is the National Marine Aquarium building which can be seen from the theatre. I've also included more traditional harbour views based on my exploration of the local coastline.
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MARK FIELDING 2002