Yuria Okamura + James Murnane
Stillness In Silence, Shapes In Space
15 June – 2 July 2011
Yuria Okamura and James Murnane each combine geometric abstraction with traditional architectural designs in order to create images that have a meditative quality. Yuria uses Japanese Zen garden and architectural designs as her inspiration whilst James uses stained glass window often found in churches as his. Through the slow and engaging process of painting, they aim to capture the subtle beauty that they find in their source material. As both Zen gardens and interiors of churches invite the visitor to experience stillness and peace, the two painters seek to inspire contemplation by creating images that invite prolonged examination of subtle colours and intricate drawings.
Yuria creates her images through the use of diluted acrylic, ink and marks made with embossing on paper. She aims to invite the viewer into her meditative pictorial space by creating a spatial illusion through the use of geometry and architectural references. Inspired by aesthetics and philosophies behind Zen gardens, Yuria seeks to capture a sense of harmony between organic and geometric forms, and to represent the essence and interconnectedness in nature through simple shapes and repetitive patterns.
Yuria Okamura
Having been intrigued by the aesthetic beauties of geometric abstract painting and stained glass windows, James’ work seeks to explore and share these beauties. He hopes to represent simple and subtle beauty through gentle tonal changes and intuitive flow of geometric shapes. Drafting out the forms in an intuitive fashion, then slowly painting them in by hand, once again seeks to speak of beauty. That beauty can break forth at both a speedy, as well as snail-like pace.
James and Yuria both completed their studies at RMIT University. James completed a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Painting) in 2006, and has exhibited regularly in Melbourne since 2004. He has his first solo exhibition in 2010, titled It Takes Time And It’s Worth It held at the Blindside Artist Run Space. His works are in private collections in both Australia and the USA. Yuria graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Painting) in 2009 and completed her Honours in Fine Arts (Painting) in 2010. In 2010 she received the Siemens RMIT Fine Art undergraduate award and in 2011 won the RMIT Honours Travelling Endowment Scholarship. This is the first exhibition at red gallery for both artists.
Contact
Phone : (03) 9482 3550
mail@redgallery.com.au
Address
157 St Georges Rd
Fitzroy North, Victoria, 3068
Map
How to get here
Tram: route 11
Stop 21 just north of Edinburgh Gardens
Melway ref: 30B12
Parking in nearby streets
Bus: 504 (Reid Street)
