Stewart MacFarlane is a figurative artist whose work is saturated with contrasting blocks of colour and exaggerated angles. In his return to Brisbane, Mitchell Fine Art is hosting a solo exhibition from the 2nd – 26th May 2018 in Fortitude Valley.
MacFarlane’s paintings are dramatic narratives – uncertain and unsettling. With his implied scenarios and visual clues, his works raise more questions than answers as he entices the audience to play detective and solve the mystery.
‘In this exhibition, there is a general connection to the coast, as I am drawn mostly to the ocean. I like to live in sight of it. I am not nautically gifted, I don’t surf, sail, fish, or swim much, I just love the look, the expanse and the possibilities of the ocean’, says Stewart.
‘Most Australians live near the coast of course and would share my love of the sight of endless expanses of water. Having said that, I have included a glimpse of the outback in this exhibition. The great contrast, but the open-ended landscape gives a similar feeling of uninhibited mental freedom and a feast of possibilities’.
MacFarlane likes the idea of telling stories and has never really given a painting a ‘story’, he likes the viewer to do a lot of the work in deciding what is going on. Much of his work is made to have an uncertain narrative in it, leaving the painting open, rather than having an obvious image that sums up things for the viewer.
‘Coastline’ is showing from Wednesday 2nd May with the official opening night to be held on Friday 11th May from 6pm – 8pm.
Stewart will be present for the opening night and also for an Artist Talk in the gallery on Saturday 12th May from 2pm.
