Zhivago Duncan: The Rare But Known Phenomenon

It’s a pleasure to find an artist who is prepared to expand on their principles, and to do with Zhivago Duncan’s level of articulation. “Within this new collection,” writes Duncan, “I have endeavoured to distill the complexity of ideas and images into a meditative practice that mirrors the cycles of nature, whether it be the gentle unfolding of a sunrise, the fiery blaze of a sunset, or any other natural phenomenon typically devoid of philosophical interpretation … In the current landscape of our world, characterised by pervasive confusion and a prevailing sense of complacency in personal and material achievements, I am compelled to recognise the interconnectedness of humanity as a collective entity …”

Duncan says he aims to challenge the conventional understanding of colour through his paintings: “its existence is not absolute but rather contingent upon perception”. And “like a palate cleanser between sushi courses, these paintings serve to clear the cluttered recesses of the mind and realign one’s focus on the present moment … With each brushstroke, I remain anchored in the present, embracing the transient beauty of this moment in time”.

To 25 May.

Above: Zhivago Duncan, Delta (2024)