Pakenham Street art studios in Fremantle have been occupied by a variety of fine artists for some time yet it rarely advertises an exhibition in its own space. Sad that, as the gallery walls can manage a large number of 2D works and there's plenty of floor space for a display of 3D exhibits. Considering the exhibition a unique event we had to see it.
Wild's display of oil paintings and pastel drawing provided us with a fitting reward for having walked from South Terrace to Pakenham St on a warm afternoon. We climbed the stairs to discover perfect still lifes that celebrate the art of painting and fine landscapes that witness a love affair with another country.
The virtuosity of Wild's oils, their luminous colours, play of shadows and use of medium, capture the true essence and appearance of his humble subjects. An enamel jug, a brass bowl, fruit and vegetables - whole or sliced, bunches of bush blossoms in a vase, each is treated with the same dignity as a regal portrait. Some images are complex melodies in one colour, others a full orchestration of many hues, all are excellently drawn and composed to offer a peaceful image for contemplation.
Wild plays with space and light in a manner reminiscent of Classical Baroque, minus overt drama. A knife is precariously posed in Still Life Jug & Pears, another extends beyond the edge of a table to cast a shadow on the hanging cloth in Still Life Remued Jug & Lemons. We can almost taste the wine held captive in the luscious fruit of Still Life Brass & Grapes and marvel at the adept textural rendition of rough and smooth skinned fruit, embossed metal bowl, embroidered cloth, and wooden table in Still Life Brass, Lemons & Grapes.
Landscapes include vistas extending beyond red tiled Tuscan roof tops, Venetian canals and ground level pockets of peace found in small Italian villages. The pastel Street in Siena, Italy places us in a cobbled alley shaded by second storey overhangs and leading to a sunlit Via up ahead. So glad all the travel agents were closed when we left the gallery!
Wild is one of the few artists around who can translate something as mundane as three pears on a white enamel dish into a visual feast which causes us to marvel. And that, my friend, is the art of painting.
|