Exhibition
'Variations on a landscape'
An exhibtion of paintings by internationally exhibited artist
MARGOT BAIRD
The series “Variations on a landscape” portrays an emotional journey depicted through landscapes. The landscapes are symbolic rather than literal. They are not paintings of trees and mountains, hills and streams, beaches and skies, these landscapes are constructed and deconstructed, they are metaphors for life, dealing with contrasts, new life and death, beauty and destruction, past and present, thoughts and consequences.
There are repetitive elements in each painting which form a link from one to the next. The colours are often contrasting when juxtaposed and become significantly more vibrant. Green is exaggerated becoming chartreuse. Green symbolizes nature, environment, renewal, youth, spring, generosity, fertility, jealousy, inexperience, envy. Red is a constant colour choice creating a vibrant impact and symbolizes not only the poppies, but passion, new life, love and danger, fire and death. The omnipresent black represents power, sophistication, mystery, sadness, anger, anonymity and mourning. The paintings from this series are oil on canvas and ink on aluminium. The aluminium brings into play the reflective element – contemplative, soul searching.
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