Alexia Goethe Gallery presents Sacha Jafri, one of the most exciting British painters on contemporary art scene.
Sacha Jafri - 1st June - 31st July 2007 Alexia Goethe Gallery, London Alexia Goethe Gallery presents Sacha Jafri, one of the most exciting British painters on the contemporary art scene. With recent sell-out shows in Dubai, Singapore, Austria, Monaco, Cannes and Frankfurt, Jafri's new solo show in London, Disappearing Landscapes, explores the destruction of the environment and the rapidly disappearing landscape. Disappearing Landscapes is a celebration of what exists in the landscape around us, but may not be around for much longer. The work is an optimistic exploration of the energy, atmosphere and beauty of rural and urban landscapes, encouraging us to not take things for granted and be less myopic about what is seen in the familiar landscapes that surround our everyday lives.
Tweet-- Alexia Goethe Gallery presents Sacha Jafri, one of the most exciting British painters on the contemporary art scene. With recent sell-out shows in Dubai, Singapore, Austria, Monaco, Cannes and Frankfurt, Jafri’s new solo show in London, Disappearing Landscapes, explores the destruction of the environment and the rapidly disappearing landscape.
Disappearing Landscapes is a celebration of what exists in the landscape around us, but may not be around for much longer. The work is an optimistic exploration of the energy, atmosphere and beauty of rural and urban landscapes, encouraging us to not take things for granted and be less myopic about what is seen in the familiar landscapes that surround our everyday lives.
The show has a particular focus on London’s disappearing landscape, with recognisable scenes such as Westminster and Tower Bridge. Jafri’s large scale, oil on canvas paintings invite us to open our eyes and re-examine these icons, expelling any stagnant views we may have about them. Jafri’s greatest love is the effect of colour, a tool that changes every day, both in application and effect. The art critic and author, Chris Townsend explains, ‘the city dweller, jaded by experience, once again sees urban life as enchanted, as if seeing it for the first time through the eyes of a child or a young lover’.
Jafri’s passion is for the process of painting itself and the sheer enjoyment of paint. He creates harmonies of colour, rhythm and expression which evolve from personal narratives. His painting is not all about the finished product; it is about the passion and energy that goes into a piece of work and the process in which it is created. Few artists have the nerve to show the viewer anything but a finished painting yet recently Jafri produced a work of art live in front of a 5,000 strong crowd in The Royal Albert Hall.
Jafri is particularly inspired by ‘Magical Realism’ writers such as Garcia Marquez, Franz Kafka, William Burrows and Salman Rushdie. His pieces are the physical results of his own investigative journey, painting what is real and what is beautiful, nor what is learn-ed nor shocking. Arts writer Jane Hughes says, ‘anyone questioning the future of painting – and indeed, wondering whether painters today have anything new to say – should take a look at the collection of work from Jafri’.
Sacha Jafri says, ‘I am delighted to be showing my latest body of work Disappearing Landscapes at Alexia Goethe Gallery. Alexia has a formidable reputation within the art world of dealing with both emerging artists and some of the biggest names in contemporary and modern markets. To have a solo show at a space linked with names such as Joan Miró, Fernand Léger and Raoul Dufy is a huge privilege. It is also of great relevance I have been afforded the opportunity to exhibit in the heart of London, as it has such a large bearing and influence on Disappearing Landscapes.’
Notes to Editor
Notes to Editors:
Sacha Jafri graduated from the Ruskin, Oxford University, with a first in painting. His work has featured in countless publications, on television and on radio. Hailed by BBC London News as ‘The Renaissance Man who is set to seduce us away from conceptual art with his passion for painting’. BBC 2 commented that ‘Jafri has bought back the skill of painting to contemporary art’. The Evening Standard said ‘Sacha seems to have taken the work of Jackson Pollack one step further……His work is truly exciting and, now, highly collected’.
Sacha Jafri has an ever increasing following of collectors, private and corporate investors, and houses of modern art. His numerous charity commissions include The PCA (Professional Cricketers Association) where he painted the Official Ashes winning victory painting - artist proofs now hang in the Oval and at Lords.
More recently Jafri was asked by David Beckham to create a bespoke painting which was auctioned to raise money for Shine children’s charity. The painting was created around the footprint and signature of David Beckham and also included the handprints and signatures of some of the world’s top football players - Paul Gascoigne, Peter Schmeichel, John Terry, Dennis Wise, Emile Zola, Ruud Gullit and Paul Merson.
Selected exhibitions:
2006: The Kings Road and Ryder Street Galleries, London; Christies Contemporary Sales Auction, Hong Kong; Jafri Meets Warhol Exhibition, London
2005: Jafri Meets Warhol, toured to Dubai and Singapore
2004: RCA in conjunction with CHASE, London; New Works Ryder Street Gallery, St. James’s and Kings Road Gallery, London
2003: Grimaldi Forum, Monaco
2002: The Berlin Institute, Berlin; The Bermondsey Street Gallery, London
2001: Chagall Galleries, San Francisco; Windsor Castle Royal Charity Auction, Full-Stop Campaign; Martinez Gallery, Cannes; Burj Al Arab, Dubai
Visitor Information:
Alexia Goethe Gallery, 7 Dover Street, London, W1S 4LD tel: + 44 (0)20 7629 0090 fax: +44 (0)20 7629 3229 email: info@goethegallery.com
Open Monday to Friday 10 am - 6 pm and Saturday 11 am - 4 pm.
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