The Hughes Gallery in Sydney is hosting a fantastic exhibition of new works by world renowned English artist John Virtue who is best known for his powerful monochrome land- and seascapes.The body of paintings on paper and canvas that comprise the exhibition depict England’s North Sea, which the artist has lived by for the last six years, at the most easterly point in England.Continuing his tradition of depicting his surroundings, Virtue has encapsulated the energy and potency of the weather and the sea within the gestural, textural surfaces of his works.Although his works appear to be impressions of a fleeting moment, they are not realistic depictions of a single point in time, but rather compositions that span seasons, time, and weather.Using the raw purity of black and white as the basis of his distinct language, Virtue captures the very essence of the elemental grandeur of his surroundings.Indeed it is as though the artist has harnessed the power of the wind and water, unleashing their energy and character onto his powerfully expressive surfaces. With the authority and confidence of a true master, Virtue composes resonant and poetic symphonies in paint that blur the boundaries between figuration and abstraction.Images do not do these works justice. The palpable power and energy of his dramatic surfaces needs to be experienced in the flesh. So get to The Hughes Gallery and see the show.John Virtue “New Works” is at The Hughes Gallery until May 26, 2015Follow @ARTINFO_Aus
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