New Work by artist Charles Harper is the latest exhibition to be opened next weekend at The Russell Gallery, a dedicated fine art space in New Quay, Co Clare. The launch will take place on Saturday June 19 from 4pm to 6pm. There will be a wine reception and Harper will present his latest effort, an exquisite collection of 24 small watercolour pieces.
Charles Harper was born on Valencia Island, Co Kerry, in 1943. From 1960 to 1967 he studied at the National College of Art and Design, the Limerick School of Art, and the Dublin Graphic Studio. He also studied film making in Germany. He was taught by Maurice MacGonigal and Sean Keating.
His work is included in many important public and private collections including the Irish Museum of Modern Art and San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. He has been a lecturer at Limerick School of Art and Design (LIT ). He is a founder member of Aosdana and an RHA since 2002.
Harper primarily uses a metaphoric approach to painting using such motifs as the boat, angels, balance, landscape, and the figure.
He works in series and his preoccupations have focused around the human figure. This recent work deals with subtle drawings using political and social concerns. They work on a multiple levels, essentially aesthetic and ultimately concerned with the human condition.
He uses recognisable images to convey his ideas. His work always illustrates a structure and organisation. “The language of the painting has to make sense, just as spoken or written language makes sense,” he says. “The whole idea of art is to crystallise, to understand how people are orientated in the time you’re living in.” For Harper the actual act of painting is what matters, as he sees the actual process as one of exploration and discovery. His work has the ability and versatility to expand in any direction, with its graphic edge and dramatic connotations.
Harper exhibits regularly in Ireland and abroad and has represented Ireland many times in such countries as India, Switzerland, Italy, Latvia, England, France, the US, and Sweden.
He has received eight national awards for his painting, including first prize for his painting commemorating the 1916 Rising at the Municipal Gallery of Modern Art, Dublin, the Carrolls Open Award at the Irish Exhibition of Living Art in 1971, and the Arts Council’s Bonn an Uachtarain de hÍde at The Oireachtas Art Exhibition.
The Russell Gallery is open every day. The show will run until June 30 and can be previewed online at www.russellgallery.net
For further information contact The Russell Gallery, New Quay, Burren, Co Clare, phone (065 ) 7078185.
