Ross Chisholm’s ‘Testament’ at Green Art Gallery

  Currently on view at Green Art Gallery is Testament, a solo show by British artist Ross Chisholm. The exhibition marks the artist’s first in the Middle East and showcases his new body of work revealing an abstract portrait series rendered through his rich painterly brushstrokes.   Chishom oeuvre is inspired by eighteenth century British artists including Thomas Gainsborough and Joshua Reynolds and often consists of historical images with a contemporary rendering. He work includes subjects ranging from 18th-century British society portraits and genre scenes to 1970s vacation snapshots sourced from flea markets. Throughout he distorts traditional portraiture with interventions and various painterly manipulations such as through the incorporation of geometric abstraction and juxtaposing subjects from different centuries. For example, in one work he even updating a noblewoman’s fashion with 1980s punk accents. His abstract expressionist brushstrokes and somber color scheme presents somber depictions of pivotal figures from past and present history.   In this new body of work the original images is less visible than in his previous paintings. Obscured by jagged lines and a multitude of fervent brushstrokes, the works communicate through a whirl of gestural movement. The seem to be the after-images of historical paintings and their identification is left to be deciphered by the spectator. Testament runs until 10 March. Green Art Gallery is located in Al Serkal Avenue in Al Quoz. Tel: +971 43469305