'Colouring In' is an exciting new collection of paintings and art works created by Manx artist James Duggan, exploring the human condition from his unique perspective. Many of the works feature the artist as the main protagonist in a number of unusual and imaginative situations, all inspired by his attempts to make sense of the world in which we live.
The paintings in this collection have been created over the last 18 months and are inspired by a wide range of themes, including loss, pop culture and the human form. The works are primarily figurative and are influenced by renowned artists such as Frida Kahlo, Andy Warhol, Peter Blake and Francis Bacon.
James’s work first came to public attention in ‘Face-to-Face’, a 2011 joint exhibition with celebrated Sayle Gallery artist Svetlana Cameron, where his huge portraits provided a counterpoint to Svetlana’s more delicate charcoal and conte work. Since then he has taken part in various group shows, but ‘Colouring In’ is his first solo exhibition.
“It is my aim to create a unique visual language in order to fully express myself,” explains James. “Ideas are perfect and come easy, but each and every painting is a monumental struggle to try to and capture that perfection, and ultimately a failure, so all I can do is try to make each painting a better failure than the last.”
Visitors to the Sayle Gallery during ‘Colouring In’ are in for a treat: James is one of the Island’s most exciting young artists and his work is shown to its best advantage here, where he is able to show both his large portraits and more intimate works in a single, unified exhibition space.
“Too much art is made to look nice hanging on peoples dining room wall,” James continues, “ but I believe true art is made for yourself, and if others find it engaging or inspirational then that's just a bonus. I quite often feel like an outsider, so showing these paintings puts me in a vulnerable position, which is both an exciting and scary prospect”.
Exhibition dates: Friday 26 July – Sunday 11 August 2013
Photo ‘Jimbob Square Pants’ by James Duggan
Location: The Sayle Gallery, Villa Marina Arcade, 1-3 Harris Promenade, Douglas, IM1 2HN
Opening times: 10am – 5pm Tue – Sat, 1.30 – 4.30pm Sundays, 1pm – 5pm Mondays
Admission: FREE
Telephone: 01624 674557
