On display this month at Galerie Trois Points is the artist Max Wyse. Blessed with an eye for the flight of fancy, Wyse, a self-taught artist, has created his own world through a carefully crafted iconography employing acrylic paint, pastels, and ink on plexiglass.

In some of his work the scene is composed of contrasting objects and hybrid beings scattered in unspecified spaces. This alludes to an inherent symbiosis between human and animal bodies. These images seem to convey distorted fragments of a monster’s tale in which its true meaning remains unclear. In his other representations, Wyse has incorporated a mirror imaging technique and in many of the paintings has divided the line of sight vertically straight down the middle.

The artist also makes liberal use of geometric shapes such as straight lines, triangles and squares throughout the canvas in such a way that the technique gives a three-dimensional depth of perspective to the creation and provides a fertile playing ground for the characters that occupy the space. In addition to shapes, he applies layers of acrylic paint, one on top of the other, to achieve his far-out effect. Wyse’s use of pastel colours is varied but subdued in its vibrancy and much of his work is awash in yellows, pinks, oranges and soft greens. The palette does not overpower the theme and allows the subject matter to be the centre of attention.

Upon looking at his paintings, one can see the multitude of styles that have influenced his work. His use and placement of geometric shapes is reminiscent of Native American art. In particular the Hopi Nation of the Pueblo region art work which represent the legends of their Kachina gods wearing elaborate feathered headdresses and costumes.

Travelling further south, the discarnate beings and incongruous imagery could be the visions of a shaman under the spell of Ayahuasca. There are eyeballs popping out of plants, and irises out of nostrils, a multitude of women’s legs bunched together and moving about or men’s legs wearing pants arranged in static positions with no upper body complimenting mushrooms huddled together in a darkened corner.

Closer to home, one can see the influence of the psychedelic poster art of the 60s which were bursting with swirls and star-like patterns trying to mimic the hallucinogenic affects of LSD. The more you look at his art, the more it changes before your eyes.

Born in Kamloops, BC and based in Montreal, Max Wyse has made a name for himself internationally with the presentation of his work in Vancouver, Toronto, New York, Paris and his current home in Montreal.

The work of Max Wyse is truly riveting and will invite the viewer to reach into the deepest part of their subconscious to fully understand his vision.

Galerie Trois Points, space 520
Max Wyse
Vol de nuit
October 13 – November 10, 2012
www.galerietroispoints.qc.ca