We are happy to announce an exhibition by Alexander Irving, in which he will show work he did during his residence at Studio Kura.

Alexander Irving is a Canadian artist working in drawing and painting. He received a Bachelor of Fine Art degree from the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design in 1987 and his Masters of Fine Art from York University in 2000. He has been exhibiting his work since 1986 and currently works out of Toronto, Canada. Irving has taught at the Ontario College of Art and Design and, at present, holds the post of Lecturer at the University of Toronto. Recent exhibitions include, Flat Men at Anna Leonowens Gallery, Janus- for Anne Carson at Queen Specific and Carte Blanche 2: Painting at the Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art.

Falling blossoms
Blossoms in bloom are also
Falling blossoms
—Ryokan

In the gallery are a series of paintings under the collective title, 1962. The series depict annual dates of significance to the author and which correspond to his time spent on this earth. Each date also bears a cancellation mark. A sense of impermanence pervades the work and also of pathos best expressed by the Japanese term, mono no aware. Also in the gallery are paintings from the series, Excerpts. These are painted fragments from larger bodies of text frustrating the original meaning but opening a door onto other possible readings or of enjoying the text as a purely aesthetic experience without linguistic significance.
Greatly influenced by Suzuki Daisetsu and the philosophy of Nishida Kitaro my aesthetic is based on the acceptance of transience. My art making as a practice has as it’s goal the elimination of a subjective self.

We would be very happy to meet you at the opening party on Saturday!

1962
Alexander Irving
Date: December 6 to 7, 11:00 to 19:00, free entrance
* We will hold an opening party on Saturday the 6th, starting at 17:00

Organized by: Studio Kura
Place: Studio Kura
Contact: info@studiokura.com