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| My Homeland |
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| Winter Peacock |
Reflections of Life
CRYING EYES
SNOWFLAKES
One
of the symptomatic features of modern art is the creative relationships with
various formal stylish impulses of non-European culture and their gradual
assimilation into the uniform whole of the cosmopolitan, a harmonic fine art
performance, getting rid of backward local-ethnic tradition.
This
historical process is possible to observe from the beginning of
Post-Impressionism, when a French painter, Paul Gauguin discovered for himself
an inspiration in the folk art from the region of Bretagne, he also found on
the Island of Tahiti a new exotic colourism which became symptomatic for his
original formal paintings. His composition is essentially bold pattern making.
Paintings of the Post-Impressionist era lead quite directly to what we call
modern art.
The
expressive lapidarity of cubism is a typical feature of Picasso’ and Braque’s
sculpture with symptoms of the primitive sculpture of Black Africa and its
impulsive expressivity, which is popular for world sculpture until this time.
We
can demonstrate for instance, that a fine creation of our century originated
from the influence of great civilizations like old Crete (Cyclades idols from
2,000 B.C), (Greek archaic sculpture, 7-6 B.C), (Etruscan, 800 B.C) (Iberian
and Celts, 1500 B.C.) and mural painting from Pompeii, 1st century.
In
today’s time we can see the efforts of a Czech-Canadian artist, Elizabeth H.
Elys, who brings to her work the legacy of the ancient cultural environment
from which she came, this environment an her own background enrich her intense interest in the creation of
her concept of historical tradition. Like Henry Moore, Elisabeth H. Elys has
found a great source of inspiration in the art work from the region of Central
and South America which is dating from the time of Columbus.
Born
in the heart of Europe, the historical crossroads to which came many cultures,
ideas and civilized trends, Elizabeth H. Elys absorbed in her work the best
that this geographic region can offer, to show and to boast.
Prague,
today the capital city of the Czech Republic and in the middle ages the
thousandth metropole of an independent royalty. Settled by the Emperors of the
Holy Roman Empire in the 14th and 16th century it was a
city of diverse cultural mixture and unity. Besides a tradition of Gothic style
there, came an influence of mainly the Italian Baroque during the time of the
17th and 18th centuries, this gives Prague a unique and
symptomatic face to the modern world.
Absorbing
the beauty of Prague since her early childhood and throughout the
years of her education, Elizabeth H. Elys was also greatly influenced by her
family background. Her father is an art historian and philosopher, has
published more than 40 books on the subject of art including for example the
first comprehensive Czech monograph of Pablo Picasso. His extensive library and
own collection of old and modern art were from an early age an enlightenment
for his talented budding artist, the intellectual stimulation and experience
from this environment gave to Elizabeth a firm and comprehensive background for
her creative work.
Elizabeth
H. Elys was born in the southern Bohemian city of “Tabor” which during the 15th
century was a religious center, the European reformation; John Hus can all be
linked to “Tabor”. Elizabeth H. Elys lived through her childhood in this city
and its beautiful surrounding nature where up to the present time there exists
to be seen the fine baroque architecture, richly decorated facades, narrow
cobbled streets dating from centuries past. Taken together with the beautiful
city of Prague and it’s “hundred” towers, the beautiful architecture of Gothic,
Renaissance, and Baroque it is easy to see why this all became the main
inspirational source for the painter.
From
an early age Elizabeth H. Elys discovered an interest in the Islamic culture
and Negro art, mainly with sculpture and the spiritual power of the cult with
its masks and idols, when she came to Canada in the Autumn of 1990 she
developed an interest in the art of native Indian’s and Eskymo’s, has developed
a knowledge of the old Inca’s, Mayans, and Aztec cultures, a thirst for
knowledge of culture which does not diminish with time. In all of this learning
Elizabeth H. Elys has developed and shaped her own dimension and space and this
is evident in her own unique style of work today.
In
her work we can found motifs expressing the wonderful memories of her childhood
and a gentle love of her maternal country. Her creations radiate a feeling of
warmth and friendliness, a typical expression of her people homeland. During
some years in North and South America this ability and expression has been
honed to a fine skill where Elizabeth has been able to bring to her work a
depth of history from her native heritage mixed with the uniqueness she has
found in the culture of South America.
With
this diverse background of European-Czech, Islamic-African, Abstract Circle, Ibero-American,
Fauna-Flora, Musical and Social Motives Elizabeth H. Elys display a cultural
universalism in her art which can find a wide appeal among members of all
nations. With sensitive and decorative colours, almost a drawing style
reminiscent of many an ancient culture her composition moves from fine
geometric shapes to the whole seemingly without regard to time or space, however
it is there in all its depth and almost primeval beauty.
On
one side Elizabeth H. Elys is a painter of expressive style not bound by the
“normal” methods or forms, yet on another side one can see the depth of history
and foreign culture expressed in her work, whichever method is displayed there
can be seen a sensible, intelligent, and almost spiritual approach to her
subject.
Besides
canvas, much of her work of Elizabeth H. Elys is suitable for textile or
tapestry, even as models for mosaic. Landscape themes evoke memories of her
childhood “Tabor” and the old architecture Prague, blending a lively harmony of
human and non-human activity. Her work spans oceans uniting old and new
mainland’s giving warmth from people to people and expressing a message of eternal
friendship and immortal love for all mankind.
One
of the symptomatic features of modern art is the creative relationships with
various formal stylish impulses of non-European culture and their gradual assimilation
into the uniform whole of the cosmopolitan, a harmonic fine art performance,
getting rid of backward local-ethnic tradition.
LES SHUARS
DESESPERADO
LOSING TIME
