30 years of work chronicled in an exhibition

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) September 12, 2011 -- John Kingerlee is one of Irelands leading artists, his meditative & intellectual work has saw him at the forefront of Irish art and as such lead to the creation of a book based on his work - “The Whole Planet is a Garden, The Genius of John Kingerlee” by Edmund P.Pillsbury PH.D. It is this book which will be launched in Gormleys Fine Art, Omagh along with the striking exhibition “The Headman” which showcases a collection of 40 paintings depicting heads created by John over the last 30 years.

The exhibition and book launch will be opened by Ulster lecture and broadcaster Professor Mike Catto on Thursday 15th September from 7.00-9pm at 3-4 Dromore Road, Omagh where guests will be able to view the book and artwork.

Talking on the exhibition Oliver Gormley commented, “We are delighted to be able to host this amazing exhibition and book launch by one of Ireland’s talented artists.”

Just like Tony O'Malley and Louis Le Brocquy, John never went to art school, preferring to learn constantly studying the great artists of the past. For the past twenty years John Kingerlee has lived and painted on the Beara Peninsula in West Cork. During this period he has evolved a technique of painting whereby layers of pigment are applied one over the other, forming thick strata of paint akin to the rocky landscape visible outside his studio window. Each layer requires considerable time to dry and in pictures such as the present work, which can have as many as fifty to one hundred coats of paint, the entire process is lengthy and deliberative.

Kingerlee throws academic cultures out the window and is like a childhood rediscovered with all its freshness and dreams, he seeks inspiration from the primitive peoples with their totems and magic signs and from the culture of folk art, naïve art and above all the art of children. His work literally fizzles with energy as if seen through the eyes of a child creating friendly innocent like beings, goblins and animals from a cosmic world. There is no threat here, just a positive message of hope and optimism.

His head paintings are worked and re-worked over long periods and the landscape is sometimes sculptured on top of these portraits. Kingerlee has remained true to himself for the last forty years and will continue this way every time he paints at the easel.

For further information check out:
www.kingerlee.com
www.fb.com/kingerlee

book launch     e. pillsbury     exhibition     fine art     gormleys     irish art     John Kingerlee