By Audrey Wang, Marketing Volunteer
In art, the term “Japonisme” (from the French) was coined by the French art critic Philippe Burty in 1872, to describe the influence of Japanese art on the fine and decorative arts, sculpture, architecture and the performing arts of Western culture.
Widely considered to be some of the most important Canadian artists in the early 20th century, the Group was an organization of self-proclaimed modern artists, pioneers to a new Canadian art movement that rallied against the conservatism of the time.
On March 9, the AGGV celebrates two separate, but related, exhibitions that memorialize Mount Fuji and its manifestations in the Japanese and non-Japanese aesthetic.
Emily Carr’s works compare and contrast with the works of David Milne, Lawren Harris, A.Y. Jackson, Vera Weatherbie and many others, giving the viewer a chance to come to terms with the meanings behind the paintings and the artists’ take on exploring the varied landscapes of Canada.
The physicality of forming clay into ceramic vessels and sculpture is wonderfully evoked in the title of the exhibition Throw, Slip, Spin: Studio Ceramics from the AGGV Collection.
Pottery is both a science and an art. Part chemistry, part creative imagination and part experimentation. The title of the AGGV’s new exhibition “Throw, Slip, Spin: Studio Ceramics from the AGGV Collection” might befuddle those unfamiliar with the technicalities of pottery. In this issue, we hope to elucidate upon some of these baffling terms.
David Milne is known for his precision in technique and composition, choosing simple, uncomplicated objects for his still-life works and carefully planning his landscapes to ensure a pure aestheticism.
The realm of mythical beasts spans every culture and exists in all our folklore. We not only find them in our intangible heritage, but also in contemporary literature, art, film, science and culture. In the AGGV’s extensive collection of European, North American, First Nations and Asian art, a menagerie of fantastic beasts reveal countless stories.
By Anita Lahey
In the 1950s, Mark Tobey, a Seattle artist with strong ties to Victoria, championed the work of Japanese-American artists, including Paul Horiuchi, also represented in AGGV’s collection. He later influenced major artists such as Jackson Pollock. As such, he’s a link between Buddhism and 20th Century abstract art.