The Paintings Of Cezanne 2020 a collaboration with Jordache
A collaboration with Jordache
French painter Paul Cézanne (1839-1906) is considered one of the most influential figures in the development of modern painting. His work is regarded as post-impressionist and takes credit for inspiring innovative movements; Cubists, Fauves and successive generations of Avant-Garde and Abstract artists. This evolution is partly thanks to Cézanne's unique style and loyal insistence on upholding the integrity and uniqueness of painting as a medium. But this mindset isn't without its opponents. Critics and Artists have cried, 'painting is dead!' One of the first examples was French painter Paul Delaroche (1797-1856) in 1840. Delaroche declared after seeing the first-ever photograph, 'From today, painting is dead.' Future critics shared their anxieties on the evolution of art and art culture with Kenneth Clark later published his pessimistic essay 'The Future of Painting' in 1935. Clark opposed the idea of avant-garde extremism and supported 'Romantic Modernism' as the only painting subject worthy of the medium. But the ideology that 'painting is dead, or that the art world has become a convoluted mess of conceptualism is clickbait at best. These defeatist mindsets struggle to realise the social and historical significance of painting, instead choosing to devalue the importance of the art form in contemporary settings. Painting will never die because creativity and our consumption capacity will never cease.
Jordache and I looked upon 2020 to reflect on painting and its place in society, asking the big question. What's next?
Portrayed in the piece, a Brisbane local, Pat, captured in his new residence in Melbourne. Similar conversations were being had at the time over drinks. Once the painting was complete, locals recognised the figure, asking, 'Is that Pat?' 'It is Pat captured in Melbourne.' 'Is he ok?', ' yeah, he's great!', 'Awesome, we heard Pat had died! I am glad he's alive and doing well. I guess he just cut loose and moved to Melbourne.' And like that, Pat had risen from the dead.
