Abstract Mythology
Paintings by Alan McIntyre
Friday 24th August – Friday 28th September 2018.
Where: Water of Leith Cafe Bistro, 1 Howard Street. EH3 5JP.
Open Hours – Tues to Sat. – 09:30 – 17:00, Sunday – 10:00 – 16:00.
Phone Number: 0131 556 6887.
http://thewaterofleithcafebistro.com/
A new art show opens later this month from 24th August 2018 at the Water of Leith Café in Canonmills. Abstract Mythology, is an exhibition of small format highly textured and vibrantly coloured acrylic paintings by Edinburgh blind artist Alan McIntyre.
They explore the play and expressions of the media. These abstract expressions also allude to the magical and cultural beliefs, practices and traditions of institutions of mankind. Hinting to the progress through magic, myths and religion to modern technologies.
From the traditions of using different natural plants like mistletoe or the prevalent presence of fire festivals and ritual uses of bonfires. The Norse god Balder, who is said to have been slain by a branch of mistletoe and burnt in a great fire. Frequently in early fire-festivals was the burning of a man who represented the tree-spirit. This spirit was often, thought to be the Oak tree. The many fascinating magical medical curative practices and curses that were used to bring great health and prosperity or dire consequences for the intended victims.
The surfaces of the work are intricate mini landscapes of pushed, pulled and dragged paint, which has left tactile surfaces that can be enjoyed as much as the colourful varied interplays of revealed or added colour forms. The scale heightens the intensity of the compact thickly painted gestural colour marks. Different surface qualities have also been removed or highlighted to give more visual and tactile interest. I hope that these paintings can be accessible to both visually impaired and sighted visitors. You are welcome to touch the paintings.
Alan has had a lifelong passion for art until he was diagnosed with a degenerative eye condition. He is now registered blind and challenges to maintain his passion to produce art by constantly being both constrained and liberated by his altered experience of the World.
“My fractured, blurred and restricted sight gives ne the freedom to be less constricted, compared to when I was fully sighted. I use this and take with the spirit of my chosen subject. I use my sight loss to not only be curbed by fully sighted judgements of what is visually stimulating or acceptable.
“I enjoyed the movements of the thick material with my hands or objects with the intension of the finished texture being just as important as any resultant colour arrangements in the final work.
“I am driven to keep exploring and adapting my art while my sight changes because my vision is not static and so I need to make the most of the enjoyment of the creative process. Alan hopes to show his work as just another perspective of the World but from the less acknowledged or known about area of blindness and sight loss.”
Alan is also keen to work with other artists of different perspectives, both sighted and visually impaired to keep enjoying making art. Alan has provided accessibility consultancy giving practical workshops and experience for artists and public arts organisations such as RNIB, Artlink and Engage Scotland.
a6 flyer abstract mythology Alan McIntyre art exhibition Aug 2018
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