Currently on exhibit at Galerie Luz, are the works by artists James Juron, Josée Lebeau and Benoit Forest.

James Juron’s work is an exploration into the affects of shared historical context and socio-political constructs that directly affect the human condition.  Through distortion of form, we are presented with hidden motivations of the subject and the duality of human nature. Working mostly with oils, much of his art is ethereal while breaking down and then rebuilding the inner nature of the subject.

In this collection we see recognizable political figures such as Tony Blair whose surrealistic grimace is juxtaposed to the smatterings of red paint which seem to insinuate the blood of those who have been directly affected by his political policies. In another piece we see former US president George Bush walking down a corridor with another man oblivious to the ghostly figures that line the passageway and who are howling in pain at unspoken tragedies which haunt the Bush presidency.

In another work, we see three people who come across as discarnate souls flanked by military police in the background. A woman whose face is distorted is seated next to a TV and large cuts of meat.  Juron is playing with malleability of form and exposes the disenfranchised behaviour of the figures presented. As with the other works in this collection, Juron manages to expose the complexities of human nature in a modern context.

Seeing the work of Josée Lebeau was truly a pleasant experience. One is reminded of the impressionist style of the late 19th century with its fluid movement created through unrestrained brush strokes and the creation of form through implementation of contrast and texture. Her use of colour is stark as many of the pieces are split straight down the middle by means of pigment. They are in direct opposition to one another but there is also a multi-layered use of monochromatic hues.

Upon first looking at Lebeau’s pieces, one might argue that the pieces were more abstract in form but upon closer inspection and then a physical retraction of the viewer from the piece, one can start to see the stirring that is reminiscent of the movement in nature. In one piece, the canvas is divided into an upper layer of gray wisps franticly imbued with layers of white and blue and a bottom layer of deep indigo which is in perpetual motion like that of a field being jostled before a storm. There is also the input of yellow and white in the middle which break the image in two distinct parts. It is like earth and sky pierced with the first ray of light before the dawn.

In another piece it is less about the contrast of colour but a continued exploration in movement. We see three layers of the canvas which are blending into one another. There is sky blue mixed with grey at the top, a deep yellow mixed with white at the bottom and in the middle a bolt of red which tears at the centre and demands attention. What makes this piece stand out in particular is the wide brush strokes which are very distinct preceded by lines that are created by the brush applying the pigment. Lebeau’s work is literally a study of art in motion through colour and style and is definitely worth further exploration.

Benoit Forest is quoted as saying that the approach he takes to his work is playful and he enjoys the element of surprise when creating a piece. Forest is also heavily influenced by the Japanese aesthetic and particular by Japanese calligraphy which he studied with Hiroko Okata at the École de calligraphie japonais de Montréal. In his current exhibit, Forest explores form through the use of layered medium and manipulated objects.

In the first half of the exhibit, we are presented with 6in x 6in wood blocks smothered with generous amount of oil paint that through the consistent layering of colour end as actual sculpted pieces instead of the traditional representation of oil on surface as a 2 dimensional construct. The element of surprise is clearly discernable as the colours take on a life of their own and invite the viewer to interpret the mini 3 dimensional landscapes presented. In the second half of the exhibit, Forest has placed amorphous shapes on woodblocks and creates strong statements in diminutive form. Many of these pieces are in black and white and present a very powerful contrast as alien shapes are presented in contrast to the warmth of the natural wood.

Galerie Luz

James Juron – States of Anomie
Josée Lebeau
Benoit Forest – Playground 

July 26 to August 18, 2012
www.galerieluz.com