| For a rare taste of what Jean-Paul Riopelle was all about, visit Newzones Gallery to view is a selection of paintings and lithographs by the Quebec abstractionist.
Regarded by many as the father of contemporary art in Canada, Riopelle ironically spent the prime years of his career in France before returning to Canada in the 1970s. An original member of Les Automatistes, Riopelle railed against capitalism and the dehumanizing forces of industrialization.
A large, 60 by 72 inch, untitled canvas (1959-60) on display at Newzones demonstrates the confidence of the painter who was noted for his unorthodox techniques, including using the palette knife to apply paint directly to the canvas.
Sometimes referred to as "Canada’s Jackson Pollock," Riopelle created paintings subtler than the American master, complemented by an authoritative execution that shrugs off comparison.
A large triptych titled Pavane (1954) purchased by the National Gallery of Canada, brought Riopelle another level of fame, which culminated in 1962 with the awarding of the UNESCO prize. At home, he was named as a Companion of the Order of Canada in 1969.
Last month, a solo exhibition of 26 Riopelle works opened at the State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia helping to highlight a talent to the world that was first discovered by Canadians beginning in the 1940s.
Jean-Paul Riopelle died in 2002 at his home on Îsle-aux-Grues along the shores of the St. Lawrence Seaway. |
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