Rick Lawrence shows people a new perspective through his 35 photographs on display inside the Cowichan Valley Arts Council annex gallery in his exhibit 'Urban Abstracts'.
The exhibit is on until Sept. 16.
Lawrence, who moved from the mainland to Mill Bay with his wife Giselle, and their noisy dog and aging cat in 2016, picked up his first camera at the age of nine. The photographs presented in the CVAC exhibition were taken in urban environments in different parts of the world from 2005 to 2016. Lawrence said he only stumbled upon the CVAC gallery earlier this year but immediately knew it was the perfect space to present his work.
"I am very appreciative of the support and cooperation of the CVAC staff and feel happy with having my work on display there," said Lawrence.
Lawrence said the images presented in his exhibition have been pared down to explore the interplay of line, shape, pattern, and colour while showing that an object, whether man-made or natural, does not need to be bound by conventional perceptions of its colour and form, but instead free to become something else entirely. Lawrence said art aficionados have compared his work to paintings over photography, which is no surprise to him as he has always been greatly inspired by the creative minds of Van Gogh and Matisse for their boldness and imagination, while artists such as Paul Klee, Mark Rothko, Frank Stella, Piet Mondrian, Josef Albers, and Agnes Martin influenced his sense of geometry and understanding of colour, as well as the power and beauty of simplicity.
"David Hockney has also been an important influence — his vibrant curiosity and appreciation for colour, light and perspective continue to be eye-opening," said Lawrence. "Beyond these artistic references, some of my images arise from what I call emotional memory, a theme I have explored in public presentations. I recognize that my work does not appeal to everyone, yet I’ve been encouraged by the many positive comments it has received. Engaging in conversations about my vision and process with local artists and visitors interested in the visual arts has been both stimulating and rewarding."
