Head Swim
New paintings and prints by Julian Phethean at Bodhi from Thursday 22nd until 29th November.
Julian Phethean is a practicing fine and graffiti artist who also works as a community artist in between painting. He has been a keen artist from a young age producing his first commissioned graffiti mural at 11 yrs and having his first solo show at 17 yrs. Since then he progressed through Art College and university to complete a degree in Art Practice in the community at Middlesex University. After his graduation being chosen as a finalist in the Mercury Art and Music Prize launched his career as a professional artist since then he has had numerous commissions and exhibitions of his paintings including solo shows at: The Oxo Tower, The Stables Gallery and The Red Gate Gallery, London.
His recent paintings merge the lines between graffiti, street, graphic and fine art and are very unique in style, content and composition. He uses stark colours, forms and images to create interesting and intriguing abstract pictures, which are open to individual interpretation. He creates mainly figurative images in fantasy and dreamlike realms, which are full of fun and movement and energy. These are influenced by music, travel, primitive cultures, and a fascination and respect for the natural, spiritual and religious world. Hidden under the surface of this consistent theme is a more personal, serious and reflective subject matter.
“I begin exploring my mind by instinctively and spontaneously layering colours, shapes and forms on top of one another until they uncover the underlying feelings, emotions and issues.”
“Looking at my paintings is like looking for shapes and faces in the clouds. Things are constantly changing and emerging from the composition every time you look. “