The Art Journal
The Underworld of Fish
The Underworld of Fish Swimming with delirious purpose In serenity and calmness Breeds an aqua smile In the underworld of fish Ralph Kerle (c) 2017
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How I work with abstraction
Many and varied art theories abound on the evolution of abstraction in art. I am of the opinion abstraction is not an unplanned improvised act of visualization.I believe it evolves as a result of an artist's subconscious observations in reality. The artist’s brain has seen the shape or form for a moment, captured it on visual synapses and the resulting work is the artist's representation of what their brain has perceived it saw. My work is inspired by the belief these abstractions abound in the environment naturally every single moment of the day. You just need to be aware of the phenomenon, be alert to and curious about how they manifest themselves and the affect, visually and emotionally, they have on you.The feedback about the abstraction in my art has been profound and very helpful in enabling me to understand how I work with it. Viewers will offer come up to me and use very flattering references such as this work reminds them of Dali, Kandinsky, Klimt, Olsen, Williams, Rothko, Whiteley and so on.I am always delighted when these masters are referenced as I too see modern art influences in the pictures. Indeed, it was through the influence of the modern art masters that these abstractions in nature revealed themselves to me.Or maybe, it is the masters who saw these colours, forms and shapes in nature to commence and it is I, borrowing from their legacy, who is re-interpreting their works and influence using a 21st Century mode- the digital camera. The abstraction in these pictures has not been created using Photshop or digital enhancing software. Each image existed in reality at a moment in time in the beautiful environs of Sydney's Middle Harbour . There is no right or wrong way to view the work. Each piece is designed for viewers to form their own meaning in the abstraction through the shape, colour and form of the picture. My hope is the work encourages pleasurable aesthetic meditation and connection. Feedback from Helen Zhang, China. ...“ I have been admiring your artworks on the beautiful website of yours. Such a feast to the senses, but also they make me pause in awe and go inwards. I love "Clearing the inner blueness"...every time it draws me in, gives me a different, tranquil and unique experience that's hard to put into words. Thank you for enriching our lives with such incredible artwork...”Here is a short film My Art Studio that demonstrates my art practice in abstraction.
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My Art Studio
A short film on my art studio and how my art is created. Some might call it surprising!!
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Life on the Lowlands
Life on the Lowlands Horizons of decay Sprinkled moments of lightning optimism Life on the Lowlands Ralph Kerle 2017 (c)
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The Art of Naming
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Red Heart Blue Calm [/caption] Neuroscience tell us it is the brain, not the eye, that sees. The eye is simply a muscle that acts as the conduit for vision. It is the physiological mechanism of the brain’s synapses connecting that jump starts our perception with its store of memories and ideas enabling us to make meaning out of what we see. I am constantly reminded of this when I am creating Paintings on Water pictures such as Red Heart Blue Calm and Yellow Dance Notation I first see my pictures after my morning kayak when I download them to the computer. On first glance, I am waiting for my brain to speak to me about what the abstractions in the reflections on the water represent. What is my brain telling me I am seeing? Wassily Kandinsky, the Russian artist considered the father of modern abstract painting, spent years tirelessly analysing and observing his own paintings and those of other artists using this thought process, noting its effects, specifically on his sense of colour in order to understand and make sense of the abstraction in his work. Indeed, Kandinsky would take up to six months just to add one brushstroke to a landscape he was painting. He was observing in his own mind what his eye was capturing and only when he felt the brain had it right would he add a brush stroke of colour. Kandinsky believed it wasn’t the subject content of the picture that was important in a painting. In his view, artistic expression wasn’t about scientific, objective observations rather it was how colour, form and shapes came together to offer an artist’s inner, subjective expression of their vision of the world. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="2500"] Yellow Dance Notation [/caption] My experience is this creative process is not always easy. Some shots immediately speak to me – others take days even months to reveal themselves. Yet it is in that moment of revelation of naming when I experience a completion in the work and an understanding momentarily of how to represent it – how to describe it!! More interesting from my perspective though is talking to viewers as they describe what they are seeing. It never ceases to amaze me as to what they describe they are seeing. This is what makes my work as an artist endlessly enthralling, enjoyable and compelling – the positive human interaction about how we perceive the world so differently yet how we can find joy and connection in the differences an image conveys.
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Norvik Banka, Riga, Latvia hangs Australian Ralph Kerle's Art
Wonderful to see my work featured in the corporate head office of Norvik Banka Riga Latvia. Thanks to Vineta Straznova, owner at CREA Gallery Riga Latvia who has worked tirelessly to promote my work. Great big thanks and hugs!! Just the beginning..And thanks to Imagehouse Latvia for their thoughtful and contemporary office design. The Art Journal RSS
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The Red in Resilience
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="1200"] The Red of Resilience [/caption] The Red in Resilience Savage shatteringConflagrationLying in the darknessThe red in resilienceLife's blood. Ralph Kerle (c)
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On Top of the Wake
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="1386"] On Top of the Wake [/caption] On Top of the Wake Uncertain of what I caught I stare into a coded representation of a reflection A sentient experience I'm on top of the wake Ralph Kerle (c)
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Ralph Kerle on Arts About with Sally Baillieu and John Laird
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="2500"] Life on the Lowlands [/caption] Arts About is a weekly arts programme presented by Melbourne cultural cogniscenti Sally Baillieu and John Baird on RPP FM covering all things art and culture in Melbourne, Australia. In this broadcast, I had the opportunity to talk about how I make my work and the original influences that took me on the journey.
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Drawings On Water Becomes Paintings On Water
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="2500"] A Vision of War [/caption] The audience reaction to my solo exhibition in Sagra Gallery, Melbourne has been confirming and positive. Confirming in that the discussion about the work with viewers reveals they are not overawed by the challenges the content poses. They have been curious, very complimentary and vocal whilst using words like "joy" "magnificent"and "wonderful" in the Guest Book to comment on the work. Importantly, they take delight in comparing the abstractions in the works to the styles of renowned contemporary painters such as Dali, Rothko, Whiteley and Olsen. These comments are especially positive as it was the "painterly" qualities of the reflections that caught my eye in the first instance and acted as inspiration for the work. Abstraction in art is a deliberate manifestation of a perceived reality. The painters' output is the synthesis of a series of every evolving unconscious influences that create that reality. So it was on the surface of the waters, my brain connected surrendipitously to the basic visual influences of nature on many of the world's iconic abstract paintings. Japanese scientist Masaru Emoto in his controversial book the Hidden Messages in Water suggests the molecules in water are affected by our thoughts, words and feelings. That sentiment combined with the surfaced visions of the abstract masters I saw in the reflections acted as the catalyst for my creative play. So when viewers kept coming up asking "Are these paintings?" or when gallery owners asked "When would you like to hang your paintings" or my family continually used the term "paintings" whenever they talked to their friends about the work or to ask permission to move it, I decided it was time to reduce the confusion.. From now on, viewers, my works are "Paintings On Water"
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Announcing Melbourne Exhibition Extension
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Offshore Aerial View [/caption] Sagra Gallery has extended the Paintings On Water exhibition until Sunday, December 11th as a result of its success. If you are in Melbourne please come and visit me in the Gallery. I am there Wednesday through Sunday 11.00am to 3.00pm and 5.30pm to 9,00pm. Offshore Aerial View is the picture that has received the most positive comments.
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Paintings On Water Exhibition Opening Sagra Gallery, Melbourne Australia
These wonderful responses are taken directly from the Guest Book entered on opening night. I could not have asked for a better opening!! "Art does not reproduce the visible; rather it makes visible - Paul Klee" You have produced true art!Simply striking and beautiful artworkStunningly strikingLove! Love! Love!Beautiful art and a fantastic story behind it!Amazing,mind shifting. Beautiful! Thanks to Phillip Doggett-Williams, Curator, Sagra Gallery and Alan Pentland and Steve Vizard for making this a superb opening night!! The proof of success is the work sold well!!
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