Tarazona explodes onto the canvas
Artist Pascual Tarazona recently unveiled artwork at the UJ Art Gallery, entitled, 'Images of Sound'.
Members of the art community of Johannesburg recently gathered at the University of Johannesburg Art Gallery to attend the opening night of the Images of Sound art exhibition by Pascual Tarazona.
The artwork on display was inspired by the artist’s passion for classical music, more specifically, music of Ludwig van Beethoven. The gallery was set out in different painting styles all influenced by different Beethoven musical pieces. Matin van Wyk and his band provided live music as guest mingled at the gallery.
Curator at the UJ Art Gallery Anneli Dempsey praised Tarazona for his impressive body of work. “It was an amazing process to work with PascualTarazona. His artwork is truly exquisite and was well chosen by the curators and by the artist. It was a careful selection out of a vast collection from Tarazona’s work. The collection was a wonderful example of abstract expressionism,” she said.
Tarazona was very pleased with the large turnout at the event. “Admittedly, I was a bit anxious to see how many people would turn up. But I am happy to see that it has been positively received. I am very happy in the way the gallery handled my work,” he said.
Speaker and Associate Professor in a division of Visual Arts at the University of the Witwatersrand Karel Nel spoke very highly of Tarazona’s work. “Pascual’s body of work draws out various inspirations for me. Ranging from the images of grand expansions to a profound sense of solitude,” he said.
Actress Grace Meadows delivered an inspiring rendition of the Ode to Joy with musical accompaniment. Dempsey was inspired by Meadows’ delivery of the poem. ““We are very fortunate that we had Grace Meadows to do an impressive reading of the Sciler poem Ode to Joy with a beautiful arrangement by Martin van Wyk and his band,” she said.
The exhibition is set to stay on display from 5 March to 8 April from 9am to 4pm.
