Sun, Sun, Sun! by Tiago Mestre

LAMB Gallery is pleased to present the second solo UK exhibition by Portuguese artist Tiago Mestre. The exhibition is comprised of ten new oil on canvas paintings exploring the rich pictorial associations of the Sun throughout human history.

In this new body of work, Mestre investigates how the Sun has been a prevalent symbol in art over the millennia. It has been carved and incised in stone, hammered, chased and engraved in metal, cut in wood, painted and drawn on parchment, paper and canvas. The sun has been worshipped as a deity, become a symbol of natural and supernatural forces and has been given a place in every sphere of earthly activity. Alluding to this rich history, Mestre’s paintings are a bold and colourful tribute to the power of the sun.

Describing painting as the latest exploration of his practice, with bright clashing colours, the artist applies paint in gestural motions, depicting sunrises, sunsets and cast shadows of the celestial body.

In recent years, the artist has amplified the size of his paintings, exploring line, edge, composition, and transitions between colourful forms that interconnect with one another. The paintings in Sun, Sun, Sun, exemplify this technique and showcase vibrant hues that pulsate in a patchwork of colour and form. While the geometric symmetries evident in his paintings make an instant impression, the visible brushstrokes that rupture these forms add a raw, gestural quality to his work.

Tiago Mestre’s (Portugal, 1978) practice evolves around the idea of displacement, both in terms of discipline and territory. Originally trained as an architect, his sculptures and installations reflect his status as a Portuguese artist living and working in Brazil, as well as the historical associations of human and artistic flows between both countries.