Gordon Mitchell: New Paintings

About

Gordon Mitchell’s paintings are the ordinary turned extraordinary. From Elephants in row boats and luggage being carried away by balloons, his vivid imagination and attention to detail makes every scene feel almost plausible. Idyllic beaches and peaceful countryside are juxtaposed by whimsical images of puffins carried in paint tins and mermaids in a free-standing body of water. The influence of René Magritte is evident in each work despite the artist not considering his own paintings as surreal; dream-like landscapes with floating motifs and hidden figures transform the everyday into logic-defying scenes of wonder.

Human figures and nudes feature strongly in a number of Mitchell’s paintings. Although reimagined (for instance) in the carving of a pear or apple, these nudes are reminiscent of classical marble sculpture, creating a dialogue between art history and fantasy. Faces and figures can also be found in the cracks of a wall or the peeling paint of a weathered shutter. The viewer is always rewarded when concentrating on seemingly innocuous detail.

Humour is a key element throughout as Mitchell aims to find the fun in the ordinary. By using puns and double entendre to describe his paintings, works such as Houseboat and Squash have a literal and comedic quality, reflecting Mitchell’s own personality. The titles themselves are an extension of the artworks, as they give voice to the artist’s subject matter. The intellectual charm of Gordon Mitchell’s work is a consistent throughout his painting practice, and particularly in the works selected for this exhibition.