A THOUGHT-PROVOKING new exhibition from a local artist is currently being held in Dorchester.
The Gallery at Duke’s auctioneers premises at Brewery Square is hosting the soul searching display featuring sculpture and paintings from Mike Chapman.
The display runs until Friday, February 19 and one of the highlights will be a portrait of a popular Big Issue seller in Dorchester.
Originally an art director, Mike spent many years working for advertisting agencies in London, Stockholm and New York.
Having returned to his initial passion of visual art he now enjoys a successful career as a stone carver and figurative painter.
Inspired by the works of Gaudier-Brzeska, Brancusi, Mestrovic, Moore and Epstein, Mike believed the proper way to follow them would be to learn the real skills of stone carvers before venturing into his own practice as an artist.
After two years studying with stonemasons from the Dorset limestone quarries, Mike opened his own studio in the summer of 1996 and in 2004 he held his first solo exhibition at St Martins-in-the-Fields in London.
His work is now in the collections of a number of institutions throughout the UK and in private collections both here and in the United States.
Discussing the inspiration behind his work, Mike said: “Everything I do, whether a painting, a drawing or a sculpture, is an attempt to comprehend what it means to be alive, or more precisely what it means to be a soul trying to be alive.
“I seek to find the truth beneath the surface.
“Like Steve, a homeless guy who sells the Big Issue to get by - known by everyone, probably understood by few.
“I got to know him a bit over a coffee and when I got up the courage to ask him to allow me to paint his portrait; I got to know him a lot more.
“A portrait, if authentic is a collaboration between artist and sitter.
“A journey, and by its conclusion, I believe I got to see the beautiful soul of a fellow traveller. A stranger, on seeing the painting recently, said ‘It has altered my perceptions’.
“I know – it altered mine.”
The display is the latest exhibition to be held in the gallery space at Duke’s, which is open to the public throughout the year.
Having moved into its new premises last year, the fine art auction house has recently exhibited work by renowned artists such as Dame Elisabeth Frink.
The exhibition of Mike Chapman’s work is open in the gallery from Monday to Friday from 9am to 5:30pm and from 9.30am to noon on Saturday and runs until Friday, February 19.
Resource:http://www.dorsetecho.co.uk
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