{"id":27705,"date":"2015-03-17T22:12:41","date_gmt":"2015-03-18T02:12:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.artoronto.ca\/?p=27705"},"modified":"2015-04-29T12:12:28","modified_gmt":"2015-04-29T16:12:28","slug":"ispirazione-divino-articsok-gallery","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/v2.artoronto.ca\/?p=27705","title":{"rendered":"Ispirazione Divino \/ Articsok Gallery"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Installation view of Ispirazione Divino,<\/em> Articsok Gallery, 2015<\/p>\n

Artics\u00f3k\u2019s latest exhibition Ispirazione Divino<\/em> sees a group of four artists visualizing their individualized inspirations and reflections. Joseph Cach, Ashley Johnson, Mahmoud Meraji and Marcelo Suaznabar\u2019s works address the collective\/personal ideas, experiences and recollections that act as catalysts for artistic production. The paintings are visually united through their similarly uncanny subject matter, evoking images of fantastical landscapes, imaginary beasts and other dreamlike compositions. The exhibition nuances the complexity of where an artist derives his inspiration for creating from, and how intuitive the process of fleshing out an idea can be. I spoke with the artists and gallery owners Csilla Csiki and Peter Alexander Por in advance of the March 19th opening in order to further understand the thematic thread woven throughout the show and wax metaphysical on the origins of artistic production.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Installation view of Ispirazione Divino<\/em>, Articsok Gallery, 2015<\/span><\/p>\n

David Saric:<\/span> How did the title of the show come about?<\/span><\/p>\n

Peter Alexander Por:<\/strong> I thought about what is the source of inspiration for an artist. I\u2019ve tried to come to grips with that question as a student and a serious artist, and the answer escapes me. I don\u2019t think it\u2019s explainable, the sources of feeling is intuitive and totally unique to each artist.<\/p>\n

Csilla Csiki:<\/strong> The title came about as we looked beyond style and subject matter and wondering where the inspiration came from for both subject and style.<\/p>\n

David Saric: What does the title mean to the artists and how does their work in the show relate to it?<\/span><\/p>\n

Ashley Johnson:<\/strong> Our culture sees divinity as somehow separate from animals and something that is inherently linked to mankind. I see divinity as something within our environment, and the interdependence between all features within that ecology. Therefore, inspiration is related to one\u2019s own body and its interaction with the species around it.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Ashley Johnson, Cybernate, 2013, acrylic on canvas, 60 x 48 inches<\/p>\n

Joseph Cach:<\/strong> We as artists observe, see, hear and sense everything that helps trigger creativity. If you find inspiration, you have no choice but to materialize those thoughts on the canvas or any given medium. No matter how painful it is in the beginning, you have to do it. The artist exposes him\/herself through their art, opening up their internal thoughts for the world to see, which can be daunting at first, but becomes rewarding with time.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Joseph Cach, The Guardian, oil on canvas, 24 x 18 inches<\/p>\n

Marcelo Suaznabar:<\/strong> The title is perfect for the show because we cannot explain where inspiration comes from. It is a magical moment that just comes at the right moment and right place to create a message. The artist uses their individual creative abilities to make a physical connection with these situations and scenarios.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Marcelo Suaznabar, Untitled, 2009, oil on canvas, 36 x 76 inches<\/p>\n

Mahmoud Meraji:<\/strong> The theological context of the \u201cIspirazione Divino\u201d or \u201cdivine inspiration\u201d relates to a biblical narrative of creation. We also have a specific narrative that resonates throughout the paintings within the show, sprung from specific ideas and visions that enable our creativity and artistic production.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Mahmoud Meraji, The Painter Family, 2014, oil on canvas, 40 x 50 inches<\/span><\/p>\n

David Saric:\u00a0Where these paintings produced specifically for the show, or where they already created and happened to fit within the context of the exhibition?<\/span><\/p>\n

Marcelo Suaznabar:<\/strong> Some preexisting pieces fit within the exhibition\u2019s theme while others were created specifically for the show.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Marcelo Suaznabar, Staring through Miranda, 2015, oil on canvas, 40 x 60 inches<\/p>\n

Csilla Csiki:<\/strong> It is a combination of the works that we had already fallen in love with knowing the artists\u2019 corpus of works, and trusting them with creating new paintings for the show.<\/p>\n

David Saric:\u00a0How much of an influence do the gallery personnel and the other artists have on the production of pieces for the show? Is it a collaborative or autonomous effort?<\/span><\/p>\n

Joseph Cach:<\/strong> We can take some suggestions and advice from them, but ultimately we are very strong individuals with a clear vision that gallery owners must trust when selecting us for an exhibition. Ultimately, the artists must be able to tolerate and appreciate each other for a group exhibition to be effective and cohesive.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Joseph Cach, Cover the Universe, oil on canvas, 56 x 52 inches<\/p>\n

Mahmoud Meraji:<\/strong> Knowing our previous artistic output, Peter and Csilla chose us for a specific reason, because they know that our individual works and personalities would fit within the context of the show. They work as catalysts for the exhibition and connectors between previously disparate artists.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Mahmoud Meraji, Gift to Heaven, 2014, oil on canvas, 30 x40 inches<\/span><\/p>\n

David Saric:\u00a0Describe the process in selecting the artists for the show.<\/span><\/p>\n

Csilla Csiki:<\/strong> We knew and loved the artists\u2019 works previously and had a vision of selecting them for a group exhibition. We joined them together to create this team of artists, and eventually came up with the title as the contextual glue that binds these creative individuals together.<\/p>\n

David Saric:\u00a0What kind of emotions or feelings do you want to elicit within the viewer when visiting the exhibition?<\/span><\/p>\n

Ashley Johnson:<\/strong> I would like them to appreciate the process of creating an idea and manifesting it on the canvas while also exposing my innermost feelings and preoccupations. It\u2019s like a personal gift that I am presenting to the viewer.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Ashley Johnson, Reiterate, 2013, acrylic on canvas, 60 x 48 inches<\/span><\/p>\n

Joseph Cach: <\/span><\/strong>I think the title makes it easier for viewers to experience the essence of the show, where they can witness works that have a divine and deeply personal relationship with the artist. The viewer is given an intimate and privileged look into our thoughts and inspirations, which will resonate throughout the paintings on display.<\/p>\n

Text: David Saric
\nPhoto: Balazs Kralovanszky, Courtesy of Articsok Gallery<\/p>\n

*Exhibition information: Group\u00a0Exhibition:\u00a0\u00a0Ispirazione Divino; <\/em>Joseph Cach, Ashley Johnson, Mahmoud Meraji and Marcelo Suaznabar, March 19 –\u00a0 April 25, 2015,\u00a0\u00a0Artics\u00f3k Gallery, 1697 St. Clair Avenue West, Toronto. Gallery hours: Wed \u2013 Sat, 12 \u2013 6 p.m. Opening Reception: March 19, 2015 \/ 6 – 9 p.m.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

by David Saric<\/strong><\/p>\n

The paintings of the four artists: Joseph Cach, Ashley Johnson, Mahmoud Meraji and Marcelo Suaznabar are visually united through their uncanny subject matter, evoking images of fantastical landscapes and imaginary beasts <\/p>\n

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