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Nathan Moshinsky

Still Point

Oil pastel drawings and paintings in oils, exploring the theme of balance and energy

Richmond Library Exhibition Space - 415 Church Street, Richmond

23 March - 24 May 2010

Nathan Moshinsky works were displayed in Richmond Library with four of those hung on the Library wall and four placed in the glass cabinet.

What struck me immediately were the lovely colours Nathan uses, very rich and expressive. His paintings were depicting landscape, seascape and nature.

When I write about the artist, I first look at their work and note what effect they have on me and only then do I read the artist's statement. And in this case to my amazement and joy, what I felt and what was the artist's intent were happily complementing each other.

My first impression was that a lot of the works looked 'tropical', I thought of Fiji or Hawaii, and guess what! Nathan spent three years in Solomon Islands, painting and absorbing 'the tropical landscape.' It's where he enjoyed the slow pace of life and where he attempted to record his 'reaction to these surroundings.'

Nathan's style is 'semi-abstract.' He uses 'natural forms to express a pattern of colour and forms', in this way he attempts to evoke his feelings and ideas about the subject matter he studies and paints. Perhaps that's why I found Nathan's work evocative, some peaceful and others as if waiting for a storm or a downpour, just like in the tropics.

 



Tasahe, oil on canvas, 76 x 51cm, 2010

 

Paintings which were on the Library wall were executed in oil on canvas, with two large and two smaller ones. Beyond the Sunset is done in blazing orange, yellow, burnt sienna sky, dark clouds rimmed with the last sun's glowing rays. The foreground is very dark and brooding, with what to me seemed reminiscent of some old pagan ruins, and maybe they were.

Garden Setting, also oil on canvas, has a completely different atmosphere. It looks very cosy and warm with pots and ornaments set out on a work bench. Perhaps it's the end of a working day in the garden. Looking at the work I experienced a very pleasant and peaceful feeling, just wanted to sit in that garden.

Tasahe depicts landscape in lovely emerald green trees and golden grass, blue-pink sky and a feeling of the sun going down. The lovely blue inlet has a calming effect of still, clear water. And in the distance a rim of bluish hills. I wondered where Tasahe was.

Distant Horizon, is executed in soft colours, blues merging with delicate orange, bronze and violet tones. The horizon is lit up with glowing, yet soft, lilac pink, again perhaps the last rays of sunlight. The sea is calm but there seems to be a hint of storm or rain. The work is done with flowing, confident brush strokes.

There are four works in the Library display case and all are oil pastels on paper all in lovely colours. In fact a lady coming out of the library stopped, looked and said “what lovely colours today.” So we chatted and she said she liked these works very much and I agreed.

Exhibition Gardens viewed from a distant positively glows. Pink-lilac-blue sky, green trees with yellow highlights, blue green shrubs and stems and glowing orange blooms. The white fountain gives the scene focus and I can imagine myself relaxing in this restful place.

Uepi' with it's azure, emerald, cobalt water, very still, fringed with distant hills, dark green touched with iridescent pink, reminded me of Hawaii.

Brighton Beach, again has beautiful colours, lots of blues and golden sand, emerald and sap green vegetation. I could set up a picnic here and gaze at the city in the distance and the lone sail boat making for home. This image also evokes late afternoon for me with all activity slowed down for the night.

Trees at Tavanapupu mirror the same colours. Here two tree trunks standing sentinel, guarding the inlet and the shore. The sky is a warm apricot colour and it reflects in the water near the edge and in the wonderful warm tree trunk.

I really enjoyed this exhibition and would recommend for CAS members to take a trip to Richmond Library and be transported to more exotic places.

Review by Sophie Skarbek


Beyond the Sunset, oil on linen, 100 x 76cm, 2008

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