On Wednesday 29th July, a new exhibition: You Live in a Paradise of Your Own Creation by Harland Viney launched at the Babylon Gallery, Ely.
The exhibition’s curator Nancy J Clemance worked at Babylon Gallery from 2004 to 2008. She then moved to Dorset and met artist Harland Viney, quickly becoming friends and collaborators. After 12 years, she has returned to the riverside gallery to curate Harland’s new exhibition of paintings.
Nancy explains what drew her to Harland’s work, “I’m a proud product of the straight, flat lines of East Anglia and fed my own children on the eternity of Holkam beach and the airy broad skies of Fenland. Yet I missed and was drawn to immersing my life into the muddy curves, the lush watery lows and the sandy cliff highs of the southwest. Harland Viney’s work allows me to continue to do so.”
The exhibition focuses on Harland’s landscape paintings, exploring how flora and fauna merge into our sense of ourselves and others. Nancy said “This exhibition is here as an opportunity for you to think about how and where you want to place yourself in relation to landscape. Are you where you feel comfortable? Do you want to feel comfortable? Do you try to balance between landscapes? Does the land grow out of you or do you merge into it? Is there an imagined landscape where you see yourself fulfilled?”
On Sunday 24th July, visitors will have an opportunity to meet Harland Viney and ask any questions from 12pm to 4pm as she hosts a ‘meet the artist’ event at the gallery. Visitors to the exhibition are encouraged to take part in the mark making postcard activity to add to the community wall. Simply collect a vintage postcard of landscape and portrait and customise how you see fit, using any medium including collage, sewing or paint.
You Live in a Paradise of Your Own Creation is on now at Babylon Gallery until 4pm on Sunday 24th July. Babylon Gallery is open Tuesday to Sunday, 12pm to 4pm with free entry.
Press release from Babylon ARTS
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