Ciel et terre - an exhibition of paintings by Anthony Hobbs
The Gallery at Victoria Hall March 25 to April 21, 2010

The Gallery at Victoria Hall is pleased to present an exhibition of new paintings by Anthony Hobbs. The recent oils, varying in size from small pochades to large canvases, continue to explore the tensions between abstract and figurative interpretations of the land, which have preoccupied and fascinated the artist for a number of years. The results here are paintings that resonate with depth
and emotional content.

Anthony Hobbs’ latest series of works, Ciel et terre, are inspired by the “sense of space” in the Eastern Townships as well has his recent experience in the misty mountains of Wales. These paintings represent not so much what is retained by the mind’s eye or memory, as the artist’s emotional reaction to what has been seen. The artist notes that he endeavours to retain the mood that first inspired him and to “evoke in the viewer a similar emotional response.” The sense of place emanating from the paintings emerges out of the artist’s ability to bring together that which is specific – a distant mountain range, turbulent water at the end of a day or cloud formations gathering on the horizon in North Hatley – with an underlying abstraction and formal armature that lend the works a greater reach and strength. In several large canvases, for instance, dark cloud shapes loom forward towards us, creating not just an atmospheric mood but forceful compositional shapes that push and pull inside the picture plane. Hobbs’ palette, ranging from the subtlest of hues to bold contrasts of colour, further adds to the sense of drama, as does the painterliness of the brushhandling. We are enticed to respond to the sheer beauty of the surface of these works, rich in movement and energy. Intriquing, too, for the viewer, are the several juxtapositions of smaller studies – evocative works in their own right - with their respective larger transformations, giving us a glimpse into the artist’s decision-making process. This is a strong body of work.

Anthony Hobbs was born in Southampton, England and studied art, design and illustration at St. Martin’s School of Art in London. In 1968 he moved to Montreal where he built a distinguished career as a graphic designer. He also taught graphic design at Dawson College and was visiting lecturer at Concordia University. Over the last few years, however, he has focused solely on painting and has enjoyed both solo and group exhibitions in Québec, especially Montreal and the Eastern Townships.

He is a past member of the National Excecutive of The Society of Graphic Designers of Canada and past member of La société des graphistes du Québec. He is currently on the Board of Directors of The Visual Arts Centre, Westmount. Past member of the Concordia University Fine Arts Advisory Committee. And former member of the art selection committee for the City of Westmount.