EXHIBITION: Martin Bennett at Wilding Cran gallery, Los Angeles
“When I Can No Longer Fall In Love For The First Time” by Martin Bennett
November 19th – January 7th
at Wildin Cran gallery, Los Angeles
Extreme subtlety of Bennett’s oil & acrylics on canvas.
The British painter brings, thanks to his technique, this Art of Silence similar to that of the works of the great Girogio Morandi.
Take a close look at the Three black and white daisies (image above and below) It looks like the artwork is the same when it’s not. Each daisy is simply shown, obviously centered on the canvas, and almost too small compared to the background. And each simple flower becomes by the grace of Bennett’s technique, grave, imposing and delicate at the same time. It looks like the last specimen you can see on earth!
Bennett’s current practice revolves around three ongoing series that he began in the mid-nineties and include: Grey Volume Paintings, Variant Flash Paintings and Static Image Paintings. The Grey Volume Paintings are monochromatic canvases that he began producing in 1995, the Variant Flash Paintings are gestural compositions initiated in 1996, and Static Image Paintings are image-based paintings that he started making in 1999. All three components are represented in When I Can No Longer Fall In Love For The First Time.
The entire exhibition requires time to understand and appreciate it all. So, take your time.
Beatrice Chassepot – Los Angeles, December 15th, 2016
Martin Bennett CV
Other artwork at the exhibition
