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Here and Long Ago

Here and Long Ago

Curated by Thom Oosterhof

Curated by Thom Oosterhof

A group show curated by TESORO

March 4 – April 15

OPENING: Saturday 4 March from 17.00- 19.00 hrs.

Jonathan Ryan
Elliot Purse
James Collins

 

Group Show
Group Show

Gerhard Hofland is proud to present the group show, ‘Here, and Long Ago’, curated by Thom Oosterhof from ‘Tesoro’.

The show presents a collection of new work by 3 international artists:  James Collins (UK), Jonathan Ryan (US) and Elliot Purse (US).

The central theme that guided the curatorial selection for the show is the concept of civilisation and the passing of time. How our history and our future are bound by our present . How lessons and tragedies from the past are so easily forgotten, how the almost graspable future remains so central to our every day, how the present itself becomes almost forgotten. The works in the show encourage the viewer to look a little closer, to spend a little more time with and to contemplate a little deeper. In the act of simply viewing the work, attention is rooted in the present.

Physically, the works in the show, and the space in which they are shown, create an environment where the mind must grapple with whether or not the paintings depict civilisations of the future or of the past. The works themselves refuse to be placed in a certain time period , while referencing historical motifs, philosophies and themes, they stand imbued with contemporary technique and thinking.

The viewer is left to contemplate if the figures and scenes within, help us understand ourselves through those gone before or present a reality not yet our own.

The 3 artists that are participating in the show each reflect in their work a different element of this story. Brooklyn based Elliot Purse, explores a new softer side of his practice. Where the balance between physical strength, in this case marble busts and ornaments, is softened through the use fabrics and curvature.

LA based Jonathan Ryan depicts textural landscapes, his latest series incorporating almost borders or some form of track. In a way, bringing together what resides within into one collective whole. Painting a fascinating picture of what could be seen as a society of the past or a not too distant future.

UK based painter James Collins again incorporates a beautifully textural and gestural practice but in contrast to the other participating artists he depicts a somewhat hieroglyphical / symbolic imagery. Again, a symbol not attributable to a specific time period, instead ambiguous in its chronological orientation.

Jonathan Ryan – Born in 1989 in Buffalo, NY. He received his BFA from Louisiana State University and his MFA from the Tyler School of Art at Temple University. Ryan has exhibited across the US, including three solo shows at the Landing (Los Angeles, CA) and an upcoming solo show at Hesse Flatow (New York, NY) in April 2023. He has also been in group exhibitions at Monti8 (Latina, Italy), Ekru Project (Kansas City, MO), Tiger Strikes Asteroid (Los Angeles, CA), The Brand Library (Glendale, CA), Gallery ALSO (Los Angeles, CA), Field Projects (New York, NY), San Diego Art Institute (San Diego, CA), and the Woodmere Art Museum (Philadelphia, PA). He has received fellowships and awards from Woodmere Museum of Art, Tyler School of Art, Vermont Studio Center, and LSU School of Art. Ryan lives and works in Los Angeles, CA.

Elliot Purse
 – Elliot Purse is an American artist based in Brooklyn. He received his MFA in 2014 from New York Academy of Art and BFA in 2011 from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. His work is currently being shown at Alchemy Gallery in New York where he has a solo presentation. Elliot also has upcoming shows at Turley Gallery and the Spring Break Art Show in LA. In the past, Elliot’s work has been shown at numerous key galleries and museums such as Sweet Lorraine Gallery.

James Collins
 – Born in 1992, Darlington, UK, James received his MFA at the RCA in London and his BA(Hons) at Wimbledon College of Art. He has exhibited across the globe with solo shows at Art Brussels and in London with Claas Reiss, with CAR DRDE in Bologna, and with PM/AM in London. He has had group exhibitions with James Fuentes in New York, Monti8 in Italy and Rob Barton in London. His work is part of the Simmons and Simmons collection as well as many other private Collections across the UK, Europe, America, Canada and New Zealand.

Here and Long Ago
Here and Long Ago