‘ESCAPOLOGY’
On the surface Samuel Thomas’ paintings are light and fluffy – like a surreal vision in a dream – but just like a dream scratch beneath the surface and you will discover a deeper meaning.
Red Lion Hotel, Cromer | 25th Oct – 1st Nov | 11am – 6pm
Life can be dull, dark, and damn right depressing sometimes. We all long to escape from time to time, to another time and to another place and often in the pursuit of something more exciting. Look no further as Norfolk artist Samuel Thomas presents an exhibition that will transport you there.
'Take a glance through Alice's looking glass into a surreal wonderland
Where maybe the grass really is greener on the other side.'’
The unifying theme of Escapism runs throughout Samuel’s paintings; from the exploration of surreal scenes we may envisage in our dreams to capturing a moment in a euphoric & mesmerising manner. Samuel has captured Norfolk landscapes and scenes to the wider world from his travels as a young artist in an explosion of unusual Pop-art infused colour & pattern that will captivate your imagination. His paintings have the ability to transport one to another time and place, Samuel explains further: ‘The way in which I capture Norfolk scenes and other landscapes is clean, geometric and stylised in fashion – for this is the idyllic vision of the world, one that is often only realised in people’s imaginations or dreams; unique, utopic, limitless and mesmerising. The best way I can describe my paintings is a day-dream played out on canvas, something caught between reality and the imagination.’
''The child sees everything in a state of newness; he is always drunk.....
Genius is nothing more nor less than childhood recovered.'' (Baudelaire, 1863)
‘Queen of Hearts’ by the surreal style of painting in a playful ‘Alice in Wonderland’ style documents a rather sad but true idea that the quest to find true love may only ever be a notion or a fabrication found in fairy tales. ‘Moonlit Tree of Hearts’ illustrates the idea of an all-encompassing romance between a couple, where even the tree’s leaves are spell bound and transformed into a thousand hearts. ‘Sun Drenched Road Trip’ is about learning to appreciate the excitement of the journey that we take in life rather than being pre-occupied with the end goal. ‘Bursting into Spring’ is the idea that life can be so much more magical when you find that someone special to share the journey with characterised by the tree flourishing in a surreal fashion whilst a couple cycle beneath it. ‘She Dreamt’ is about the importance of our dreams on our unconscious and having faith that one day our dreams will become a reality. Perhaps the house only ever existed in the lady’s dreams and is a symbol that represents everything that she longs for from her life; security, a family home, a husband and a place to call home. It is her sheer determination and belief in her dreams that will one day cause them to be realised by manifesting themselves in reality.
Samuel Thomas’ work has captured the hearts and minds of the public and 2013 has proven to be a busy year for the artist with 6 commissions undertaken for ‘Wild in Art’ including sponsors from Marks and Spencer to the Norwich Castle Mall and the proceeds raised from the public auction of the art work goes to charity, Samuel’s ‘love hearts’ giraffe has already been valued at £6000. In addition to this his range of greeting cards released at Birmingham International Trade Fair are now sold all over the UK in independent retailers whilst Samuel has been busy with exhibitions in Padstow, Cornwall to Cromer, Norfolk.
Discover more about my art work, ideas and inspiration at my 8 day long exhibition where I am teaming up with David Morris; Norfolk Photographer who will also be exhibiting his extensive portfolio of photography and together we will explore escapology in both of our works.
See more of Samuel’s paintings: www.samuelthomasart.co.uk
FIND THE VENUE: ‘ESCAPOLOGY Exhibition’: Function Room, Red Lion, Brook Street, Cromer, NR27 9HD