Self Portrait
Name/Title
Self PortraitEntry/Object ID
HUM-2023-00002Description
In this recent body of work, which was included in his solo exhibition at Patel Brown, Toronto in 2023, Kim Dorland combines the digital print with the medium of oil painting that he is known for. The painted areas in Hollyhocks and Self Portrait (Future) are layered on to digital prints, highlighting, adding further dimension and detail to the works. Hollyhocks depicts the biennial plant on fire, with plumes of grey smoke rising in stark contrast to the vibrant flowers and acid hued background. Forest does not include any layering of oil, reflecting the immediate ability of the digital medium to convey an intimate rendering of the forest fires that were relentless in Canada during the summer of 2023 and will continue to be a reality in many parts of the world. Self Portrait (Future), continues the theme showing the artist against the bright orange negative space of the forest, having just emerged from the fire, with a painting in hand and heading back into the blaze as the title suggests. “These works continue Dorland’s longstanding interest in the overlap of identity and place. His subject matter feels oddly still yet seems to emit a low-frequency buzz. A type of imperceptible energy. The deep-hum of something quietly percolating. These dualities point directly to the futility many feel living through our current climate crisis. There is so much to do and so little being done. And with the weight of so many concurrent catastrophes, Dorland’s work staunchly resists optimism. Instead, the artist offers a realistic response to the catastrophic time we live in. The viewer is asked to sit in the dread, ponder the missed signs, and, if possible, relish in these quiet moments of realization. There may not be hope here, but there is acceptance. Works in this exhibition tap into this particular brand of melancholy, the reality of living with grief and fear, and the intrinsic desire to persevere and revel in the beautiful moments that remain.” - Excerpt of exhibition text by Jenna Faye PowellArtwork Details
Medium
Oil, Inkjet on PaperCollection
Permanent CollectionCategory
Mixed Media