Gareth Cadwallader鈥檚 body of work has always sought to portray an idealised representation of the world. His most recent and ongoing series of paintings attempt to convey, as he puts it, a sense of 鈥渨ellbeing and contentment鈥, matched only by 鈥渢he psychological state of absorption.鈥 The visual language he has created is dominated by Italianate hills, tranquil seascapes, citrus trees and caf茅 verandas, with an underlining geometric composition that constantly seeks to establish order and clarity.
Sailor Girl II initially took inspiration from a picture on the side of a box of salad. Where others simply saw the image of a smartly-dressed man transfixed by a cherry tomato, Cadwallader saw an allegorical insight into the man鈥檚 mental state. He has described the image as a 鈥渧isual metaphor for the freshness and well-being promised by the salad鈥, which led him to explore similar metaphors in his own art.
Whether he is painting landscapes or portraits, Cadwallader鈥檚 work transports us into its own self-absorption, an effort aided by the fact that it is ultimately anchored in everyday experiences. Perhaps that is why it seems to make sense that this painting, now longlisted for the Aesthetica Art Prize 2016, had its humble beginnings on the side of a salad box.
The Aesthetica Art Prize 2016 Exhibition will聽be open聽from 14 April – 29 May, ,聽Castlegate,聽York,聽YO1 9RN. Wednesdays to Sundays, 12pm to 4pm, free admission.
To enter the Aesthetica Art Prize, visit .
Credits
1.聽Gareth Cadwallader,聽Sailor Girl II.
