TRANSCEND

press release

Robert Kananaj & David Van Drunen

TRANSCEND

13 February 2014 to 29 March 2014

Reception: Thursday 13 February 2014, 4pm to 7pm

Press Release

"Transcend" started a year ago; a collaboration between David Van Drunen and Robert Kananaj. Painting and sculpture installation brought together around a mutual interest of recycled doors as a subject of interest. This lead to the project, "Transcend", using doors as an entry - exit point. Two door collaborative pieces were conceived, "Back to Back" and"Transcend". The dynamic of painted door surfaces by Van Drunen are strong enough to resist anchored mirrors in between them, both installations by Kananaj. The entry point of the show is a free standing up, ready - found  wooden door, as it is open, mirror clustering on its base, installation by Robert Kananaj, after two window pieces also by Robert. One, perhaps collapsed mirror door from the weight of joy, structured by colourful drinking shots towering on fragmented mirrors among almost dizzy background of colourful beads framed by two eight feet 4”x4” wooden beams flame scorched on the top surface. The other window is cluster of ping pong balls hanging above prefabricated coloured metal squares, bundled by plastic ties. Centre piece is David’s 1 foot by 21 foot long “Trinity” piece, a painting where a particular narrative is breathing in a free flow paint on canvas, displayed in a folded version, as a scroll of book - painted of  “Trinity”, like a book of Revelation.  This piece acted as the starting point of this exhibition. The biggest piece of David’s young career, titled “Nelson Mandela”is an homage to Mandela’s life journey and significance.  We see a parallel of the social freedom and awareness of both, Mandela as a personality, and  Van Drunen seemingly in tune with the freedom and consequences of painting this large canvas. It is to be noted how David succeeds to be narrator of his own story in very abstract paintings. The integrity of subject with the end result of the painting does not interfere with the independent viewer’s individual point of view, perhaps makes it more precious.

David Van Drunen is Toronto based young artist. It is the biggest exhibition to date of David where he exhibits with authority that abstract and action painting embed his narrative.

Robert Kananaj is also Toronto based senior artist with 25 years as a sculptor and installation artist, with the last three years directing the RKG.

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