Layered, fragmented glimpse of artist’s imagination

James Delaney’s second solo exhibition at In Toto Gallery, Palimpsest, will present to viewers surreal, imaginative landscapes.

Delaney’s extension of his focus on organic forms and their contours will be evident from the works on show.

Gallery curator, Megan Kidd, said that this body of work will show the “clear development of thought and technique” from Creation, Delaney’s 2012 first solo exhibition at the gallery, as the artist worked over canvases featuring his older work.

“[Delaney used] their frameworks and ideas to inspire new forms and meanings,” said Kidd.

“The notion of the palimpsest (a page from an old manuscript on which the old writing was erased and replaced with new text) is activated as Delaney’s more surreal, imaginative landscapes, which encourage closer looking through their inclusion of hidden symbols, objects and connotations, encompass traces of the original work.”

Kidd said that Cubist ideas were also reflected in Delaney’s new body of work.

“Cubism, the early 20th century art movement pioneered by Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque, denotes the scrutinising, dismantling and reconstruction of subjects in abstracted form,” she said.

Rather than portray subjects from a single viewpoint, artists will illustrate it from numerous angles, which will provide context for the chosen object.

“We see these ideas reflected in Delaney’s body of work through his use of fractured aesthetic, signifying not only a reference to a significant movement, but also echoing his references to other European modern art masters,” she said.

“With the layering of otherworldly landscapes in conjunction with the Cubist aspect of deconstruction and reconstruction, we are presented with a fragmented, layered glimpse of Delaney’s imagination.”

Palimsest will run from 31 July until 1 September at In Toto Gallery, 6 Birdhaven Centre, 66 St Andrew Street, Birdhaven.

Details: 011 447 6543; www.intotogallery.co.za; www.delaney.co.za