6/2/2002
Blue Colours
Cafe Box, London
London's Cafe' Box takes on a deeper shade of blue in February with a stunning exhibition of abstract paintings from the turkish/kurdish artist, Ilyas Kirkan, who is entirely self-taught. Blue Colours, Kirkan's 6th exhibition in the capital, is a highly unusual series of textured paintings which takes it inspiration from the sea. Each piece mixes canvas and glue with elements of the shoreline such as gravel and sand.
Ilyas Kirkan
London's Café Box takes on a deeper shade of blue in February with a stunning
exhibition of abstract paintings from the turkish/kurdish artist, Ilyas
Kirkan, who is entirely self-taught.
Blue Colours, Kirkan's 6th exhibition in the capital, is a highly unusual
series of textured paintings which takes it inspiration from the sea. Each
piece mixes canvas and glue with elements of the shoreline such as gravel and
sand.
"Blue gives me a deep sense of peace, tranquillity and inspiration," explains
Kirkan, who was born in Turkey but raised in Denmark. "For me, water
embraces a huge variety of emotions, and links the flow of culture and
experience between East and West. It has formed the background to my own
life and artistic temperament.
"All too often at the moment we see and read reports in the media about how
East and West are in battle: for me, Blue Colours represents what unites us
as people and as humanity, rather than what some would have drive us apart."
30-year-old Kirkan has always painted in abstract forms and takes his
inspiration from modern artists such as Rothko, Miro, Still, Soulages, Willem
de Kooning and Yves Klein. Abstract impressionism has always had a large
impact on Kirkan.
Blue Colours can also been seen at Arcola Gallery, London N8 during May/June 2002,
and at the "Gallery":jesperfriis, Copenhagen, during
September/October 2002.
Image: Ilyak Kirkan, The Willow Silhouette, 2001 30"x24" sand/gravel and glue on
canvas.
Café Box,
30-34
Monmouth Street,
Covent Garden, London WC2