ABUNDANCE
Paintings and Pastel works by KIM MAPLE
17 June - 8 July, 2001 at LIVEWEBB ART GALLERY
Reviewed by Judith McGrath

This is an aptly named exhibition as the work displayed certainly offers a true sense of abundance. There are rich surfaces, a profusion of shapes, fullness of colour and a wealth of delightful marks to be found in Maple's paintings and pastels. There's also a strong sense of life pulsating through these images, as if the artist has a joie de vivre that spills into, and activates, her art.

Exhibits include small stylized forest nooks in vertical presentations and horizontally aligned beach scenes that capture the heat, glare and breeze of the seaside. Larger works involve still life subjects of round ripe fruits, flowers in full bloom, brightly patterned fabrics, and tables overloaded with bounty. All are vibrant images that are well composed and finely presented.

Some subjects are observed, as a collection, from a single point of view but much preferred are those images that suggest the artist is more involved with making a painting then just replicating what's before her eyes. In these works we note Cezanne-like techniques, like drawing objects on the same ground from different viewpoints and tilting table tops. These are added to the artist's own preference for geometric patterns melting into organic motifs and isolated leaves or blooms drawn with a single sure brush stroke. For example Tropical Table is a collection of foliage, fruits and fanciful birds, some of which have been cut from other paintings and collaged into this single frenetic composition of pure delight. All is held together by a balance of colour and well articulated line.

An underlying energy ignites all Maple's works. View to the Bay situates the viewer in a room with furniture, flowers, fruit and a window overlooking a deep blue seascape. The cacophony of colour and patterns produces a lively display that is securely anchored by surface interest. Meanwhile Lilies of the Night involves only two hues, blue and green, that create a tonal rhythm to which the named flowers seem to sway. Even Maple's beach scenes, composed of broad horizontal bands in blue and white and supporting figures distorted by heat haze, has a pulse - albeit one that's relaxed rather then racing.

If  you're looking for pure perfection find Apple Bowls with its underlying structure that has a decidedly Oriental fee to it. This image takes us along the path from abundance to simplicity, from greed to satisfaction. A large bowl, full of apples, is set on a chequered cloth at the very top of the canvas. From there the composition zig zags downwards, through fruit bowls that diminish in size and contents, beyond the point of the patterned cloth, to a single lemon sitting on a pure white ground. The composition would be top heavy in less competent hands but Maple adds a red band at the bottom edge of the canvas to support the composition perfectly. One is free to contemplate the yin and yang of art and life, from either direction.

This is a highly satisfying exhibition by a fine artist. Do see it if you can.
 


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