INTRODUCTION
Each of Stephen Mangan’s paintings are compelling on their own, but when presented together the strength of his vision is even more apparent. We are delighted to introduce this solo exhibition of his work, Life Tones. Finding the right tone and atmosphere for his work has always driven Stephen’s practice; initially the challenge was finding a way of painting people that felt right, and the next task was to give these characters a sense of place - atmospheric locations and settings for them to inhabit. Having been brought up around the beaches of East Lothian and with his family home next to the racecourse, this seemed a good place to start. Over the years, more settings have been added - railway stations, theatres, and cafes - all places from which his characters continue to tell their stories. In all of these figurative works Stephen acknowledges a debt to various artists who have inspired him over the years - Seurat, Vermeer and Hopper especially - all artists whose preoccupation with people and the spaces they occupy have accompanied Stephen as he has developed his own visual language. Stillness is palpable in each of Stephen’s works, as he slows down time to convey the tone of each scene and the particular quality of the interaction we are invited in to. Through his imaginatively thought out compositions and slow, meticulous approach to painting, Stephen creates a world with arresting presence, at once familiar and otherworldly. Populated by many people, Stephen’s compositions feature individuals that seem to inhabit their very own world, people who seek interaction with the viewer alone, apparently unaware of their companions on the canvas. Who are these characters? What stories do they have to share?
Eileadh Swan Gallery Director
Notes
Listed sizes are framed sizes. All paintings are for sale and may be purchased or reserved prior to the exhibition opening. We kindly request that decisions on reserves are made by 5pm on Friday the 4th of April.
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