David Wilson
Here and There

Dates 19 March – 9 April 2005 Venue: AION Art Gallery, 2315 Main Street

Reviewer: John Jane

David Wilson is a prolific urban realist painter based right here in Vancouver. His current solo exhibition at the AION Art Gallery consists of about sixty paintings of mostly downtown Vancouver at night. This exhibit is a follow-up of his tremendously successful showing at the same gallery last February.

Many Vancouverites may see nothing unusual in rain soaked streets in their city’s downtown corridor, but Wilson demonstrates an amazing knack of illuminating some of Vancouver’s grimiest quarters with a vibrancy and colour that depicts the energy of this city at night.

An excellent example of the artist’s interpretation of urban life is an acrylic on canvas of the Abbott and Hastings intersection seen from the Lotus Hotel. His use of neon reflections on wet pavement renders a sublime image.

The work that appears to create the most visitor interest is “Creek’s End.” A triple-paneled trichotomy, that spans the Science Centre at Main to Granville Island.

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When asked about those who might have had an influence on his work, the Emily Carr alumnus is hard-pressed to name anyone. The ambiguous scenes on display certainly offer a unique perspective of the city’s character.

When not working in his studio, David Wilson enjoys just spending time with his wife Marnie, a well-known publicist and their 5-year-old daughter, Jessica

The showcase of urban night scenes will be exhibited at the AION Art Gallery from 19 March until 9 April and will then be moved to Kelowna for exhibition at the Kelowna Art Gallery 29 April - 19 June.

To learn more about this artist, visit  www.davidwilson.ca

© 2005 John Jane

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