Neil Johnson & John Smout: Double Vision

Of his work Neil Johnson says. “In recalling a place or time we rarely remember a single image from a specific viewpoint.

My work attempts to give a sense of ‘passing through’ a place or time: sometimes it is rhythmic and harmonious, sometimes discordant and disturbing. The subject matter is drawn from observation, imagination, memory and, where necessary, secondary sources. Some of my more recent work considers surveillance and observation. So much time, energy and resources are spent on spying and mistrust. This is particularly disturbing when during a climate crisis, human kind should be working together.” John Smout believes the creative process knows of no hard and fast divisions. He likes to emphasise structure and order in the visual world, whether landscape, architecture, life or portrait painting. For him, the real and abstract constantly intermingle. John is aware of the positive and spiritual force of light and colour, which forms an integral part of his work; “together they are an active element in my art, which are used to reinforce structure and stimulate the viewer’s engagement”.

What to expect:
Painting