George Donald's new work completes a circle, as well as
opening up a new phase in an artistic career that began
over 40 years ago as a student at Edinburgh College of Art.
Later, as a tutor, he focussed on human experience as the
heart of art practice.The human figure itself, with its dreams,
terrors, whimsies, memories, passions provided a still centre
to visual adventures set against the kaleidoscopic and clam-
orous world through which Donald's global travels took him.
Juxtaposition of elements, overlaying, the rich working of
pigments and other media - all give his work tactile and
seductive surfaces,beguiling the viewer to share the private
artist's world. This then becomes our common experience,
writ both large (sometimes) and small, with intensity,
conviction and exuberant delight in the made image.
Recently retired after building an outstanding reputation as
a teacher, Donald is now able, as a full time working artist,
to make his images communicate a thoughtful, exploratory
and often profound reassessment of the themes,techniques
and preoccupations that have previously characterised his art.
It is a Januslike moment,absorbing, distilling, revisiting; then
imagining and moving on to this new phase where world and
studio combine as the arena for freshand dazzling invention.
Geraldine Prince |
