Open now at Kayly Iali’s Gallery 24 is an exhibition of work by French artist Ieko Catnap, who presents some 29 pieces of her physical world art uploaded to Second Life.
“I’m a lyrical abstract oil painter,” Ieko says of herself, “working in traditional mediums, although sometimes I include interesting materials such as silk, paper, light wood, fibres, human and dog hairs.”
Lyrical abstraction tends to cover two distinct, but related post-war modernist art trends. Given her background and training, it’s probably fair to say that Ieko leans towards the European (and French-founded) Abstraction Lyrique. The premise of the art is that it is “lyrical” – expressing the artist’s emotions; or perhaps more precisely, their emotional outlook and a desire to >communicate concepts, thoughts, ideas, and emotions abstractly, and often in a primal way – hence the tones and colours often found within the paintings.
The pieces displayed at Gallery 24 beautifully reflect the rich diversity of the movemen. Some of them have a definite, primal feel to them – notably those on the mid level of the gallery alongside the stairs to the upper floor. Others are more lyrical / spiritual in form and tone. “Everything around me – music, books, news, inspires my art,” Ieko says of her work, “I try to share my reactions with the audience.”
Having trained as a graphics designer in the 1970s, Ieko worked in that mean for almost two decades, before studying at the CEPAGRAP art school in Saint-Dié-des-Vosges, fulfilling a lifelong ambition to be an artist.
Abstract art may not be to everyone’s liking. However, this is an exhibition I would recommend. Lyrical abstraction has a unique range of voices, and Ieko Catnap is well versed in all of them, as she so ably demonstrates at Gallery 24.
SLurl Details
- Gallery 24 (Rated: Moderate)
With thanks to Kayly Iali for information on Ieko Catnap
Inara Pey: Living in a Modemworld 