Whole Gallery

6 January – 18 January

'LOST IN THE GARDEN' - Solomon Bakker

 

The Body of the Garden

These oil paintings depict everyday moments in suburban gardens - people watering plants, moving through spaces, or sitting in quiet contemplation - each with a unique rhythm that reflects their personal energy.

The titles and themes of each work oscillate between fragmented feelings and fleeting moments, capturing associations with family and friends who have been a part of my life.  The garden, as a backdrop, holds an undercurrent of connection and memory, with the light, movement, and atmosphere suggesting the subtle, esoteric energies that have shaped these interactions and the spaces we inhabit together.

 

Beyond the Walls

Painting natural life from a garden is a profound, spiritual act - an intimate connection with the living world that flows through both the garden and my being.  The leaves, flowers, and fruits are not just objects; they are vessels on ancient, biological wisdom, resonating with the same life force that pulses within me.

Each texture, each colour carries a sacred energy, and as I paint, I feel my own rhythms align with those of the garden, as if we are part of one seamless, eternal cycle.  The light of a leaf, the subtle decay of a petal, are reminders that everything is in constant flux, yet deeply interconnected.

In this act of painting, I become a conduit for this energy, translating the garden's essence into form, honouring its sacred presence.  Through every brush stroke, I am reminded that I am not separate from the garden, but an integral part of its flow - its life, memory, and spirit moving through me, as I move through it.

 

Solomon Bakker