The Ottawa School of Art in the ByWard Market has a new exhibit running now until Feb. 2 that is sure to get you thinking.
Retold Prototypes Without a Story by Adrian Gor explores masculine identity through drawing and prints, and reimagines historical and contemporary figures. Adrian Gor challenges traditional notions of masculinity using classical anatomy, medieval symbolism, and modern motifs like shopping carts and drones.
The exhibit draws on Gor’s other work, as he is best known for reinterpreting traditional and symbolic representations of the human figure in pastel drawings, relief prints, and etchings. His work draws from classical and medieval forms and personal experiences—influences that shine in this new exhibit.
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Pieces such as “The End Of Grand Narratives-N” beautifully capture movement and emotion through bright, complimentary colours and imaginative anatomical features. Nothing looks out of place in these pieces, and even the extra floating legs and hands look as if they were destined to be there—composed to look as if they are naturally interacting with the subject.
Figures often seen crouching or in a fighting stance evoke a sense of despair and turmoil, and a few dramatic angles push and pull with the balance of power between viewer and subject. There is a sense of real, raw emotion with how emphasized facial features and body positions are.
Gor’s mark-making also emphasizes these emotions, which seems more expressive and more sketch-like than the mark-making in his previous Retold Prototypes exhibit in 2023.
Another thing I must commend Gor on is his brilliant use of colour: with so much detail going on in many of these pieces, bright colours bring attention to each aspect of the painting, and makes sure nothing gets lost in the noise.
There is even a piece suspended on the ceiling—perhaps evocative of a modern version of the paintings seen in the Sistine Chapel.
With so much visual detail, I can only imagine how long these pieces must have taken to create, and I am certain viewers will have a lot to enjoy both intellectually and aesthetically.
There will be an exhibit vernissage and artist talk on Jan. 23, from 5pm to 8pm. The gallery is located at 35 George St., and admission is free for everyone. For more information, visit their website.
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