Brazilian Archipelago, A Painter’s Palette
November 9 - 30 2004
Illustration:
Noronha, Atlantic Emerald.
mixed media 32cm x 25cm
Private Views took place on:
Tuesday 9 November, 6:30 to 8:30pm
Thursday 11 November, 6:30 to 8:30pm
Sunday 14 November, 12:00 to 3:00pm
and viewing by appointment 9th to 30th November 2004
In his upcoming show at Gallery 286, JEREMY GARDINER presents his views of the Brazilian archipelago of Fernando de Noronha, a cluster of volcanic islands in a turquoise sea, 300 miles off the Northeast coast of Brazil.
When GARDINER decided to paint this archipelago, he was following in the footsteps of explorers from another time. Men like Francis Drake, James Cook and Charles Darwin visited the island, in the 16th, 18th and 19th centuries.
In the summer of 1887, H N Ridley, from the Natural History Museum in London, made a study of the miniature archipelago of Fernando de Noronha. GARDINER visited the Museum to find out more about the islands. He learned that Thomas More, one of the greatest intellectuals of his time, was deeply moved by Americo Vespucci’s accounts of the lands of Brazil: “new and pure, unfolding before Europe.” Perhaps the setting for Atlantica, the island that inspired More to write his Utopia, was this “... semi-circle in the form of a crescent; and in the middle rises a rock visible from afar...” Fernando de Noronha was ‘discovered’in 1503 by Americo Vespucci, the Italian sailor that gave his name to the American continent.
Jeremy painting, photo by Veronica Falcao
To look at the paintings on-line, please visit www.jeremygardiner.co.uk/projects/fdn/
"This is exquisite work, with material, colour and line combining to create something more richly suggestive and totemic than the merely figurative - this is the essence of landscape."
Ian Dejardin, Curator, Dulwich Picture Gallery, London
"These beautiful paintings manage to evoke the spirit of an island which is rich in historical associations"
Professor Richard A. Fortey FRS
The Natural History Museum, London; Author of ‘Earth - An Intimate History’, Knopf
On view at the Gallery during the Private Views will be a short documentary film: ‘Brazilian Archipelago, A Painter’s Palette’, by Brazilian photographer and filmmaker Veronica Falcao.
For further information contact Jonathan Ross:
Phone 020 7370 2239
jross@gallery286.com
or
veronica@jeremygardiner.co.uk