Nick Ghiz "Fiction Paintings"

Lesley Heller Workspace

poster for Nick Ghiz "Fiction Paintings"

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In Nick Ghiz’s solo exhibition, Fiction Paintings, he uses a #1 brush on wood panel to create pictures of mystery and absurdity. There is no definitive plot in these narrative works so we are left to our own interpretation of the unusual world of Ghiz’s imagination. Figures are contorted into yoga positions, some are dancing, their attire and hairdos suggesting a timeless grace and eloquence. Ladies wear gloves and feather hats and men in suits resemble Fred Astaire. Animals are personified and seem as though they can speak and the viewer is mystified by the expressions of his human characters.

Ghiz’s former involvement with theater is evident. Elements of his paintings act like props as the drama unfolds before us. His compositions are influenced by his daily devouring of literature, 14-16 th century Northern Renaissance portrait and landscape painting, vintage and contemporary magazines, and personal photographs.

Formerly a sculptor, Ghiz replaced his chisel with tiny brushes. Upon close examination, the myriad of strokes contain an energy and rhythm similar to Van Gogh without the impasto. Done on small wooden panels, they are reminiscent of old master paintings, yet Ghiz brings us into this century with his bright palette.

Ghiz tricks us with his quirky picture plane and sense of scale - the ceiling becomes sky, and a figure is dwarfed by the claw of a raven.
His clever use of perspective perplexes the viewer’s sense of scale. A simple rendering of an arch brings the viewer into another space,
and yet another after that, and just before we enter, a hippopotamus squats, smiling.

Media

Schedule

from March 14, 2012 to April 15, 2012

Opening Reception on 2012-03-16 from 18:00 to 20:00

Artist(s)

Nick Ghiz

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