Alex Gardner

Alex Gardner's observant eye is evident in his luminous paintings, which capture the nuances of human relationships through dual narratives of optimism and paranoid delusion. The faceless characters, unencumbered by superficial identities or societal pressures are paired with vivid colours to possibly highlight the longing for freedom. These figures exhibit intimately familiar behaviours which serves as a mirror to ourselves. Rather than imposing rigid meanings, the artist provides a sanctuary within a canvas and while we may try to impose our own interpretations onto Gardner's characters, they maintain their own unique identities, mirrored by the indefinite, malleable backdrops of his paintings.

He highlights the harshness of a society where each perspective has its own traits, isolating and undermining the other existing ones. Alex Gardner could be aiming to inspire the audience that ‘home’ and belonging can simply be found in one’s own head and heart.

photograph : Guillaume.Ziccarelli