Nick Dridan - Peter Syndicas - Painting | Bronze | Sculpture - Friday 14 June - Saturday 6 July 2024

Now & Then

I like to start painting without too much forethought around the imagery. I largely go with instinct on subjects, whether real or imaginary. All thinking seems more reserved for aesthetic choices as the work progresses, for example – would this line look better here or here? I want my paintings to evoke a feeling in the viewer, and I like them best when they have enough mystery that they seem strange even to me when I look back at them.

I’ve always painted what is around me, what I’m familiar with, but I also want to create my own world. I suppose that small world is my continuous theme, and as such, I don’t really think about creating new thematic bodies of work for exhibiting, I just do the next painting. This show is a small collection of new works mixed with works from the recent past.  Nick Dridan, artist

Natural Selection

Natural Selection brings together a unique collection of Peter Syndicas’ practice dating back to 1997 when his figurative twig journey began. Showcasing some of his personal favourites, alongside some recent stromatolite discoveries and most popular and unique works from the last two decades.

What is a stromatolite?

Stromatolites are the earliest fossil evidence of life on Earth. They were the first known organisms to photosynthesise and produce oxygen. They used water, carbon dioxide, and sunlight to create their food, and expel oxygen as a by-product. The examples I have used in these sculptures date back to a period in time, some 750 million years ago.