Have a look at John Rogers' Slideshow
What's your name?: John Rogers
Where are you from originally and where are you now?: I was born in Cardiff in 1939 where I attended Cardiff College of Art studying under John Roberts, David Tinker and Phil Jennings. I spent time working in circus, theatre, television and as an interior designer before painting full time and opening my gallery in St. Davids, Pembrokeshire in 1972.
What medium / media do you work in?: Mainly in watercolour and oils.
How would you describe your work?
LAND/SEASCAPE. My painting is based on the belief that all good painting is basically abstract; marks and colours revealing gestures that express the empirical experience before me, which may include design and conscious manipulation of data but accepts that the infinitely intricate nature of all that exists in the knowledge that good painting always reaches further than academic theory.
What are your influences and inspirations?: The greatest influence on my work has been nature and not art.
Which piece are you most proud of and why?: "From Africa to Iceland". Because it embraces much that has engaged my curiosity over many years leading to a fuller appreciation of we relate to each other and our landscape.
Have you had any exhibitions - if so, where? Do you have any planned in the future?: My 2008 exhibition "From Africa to Iceland" opens at the National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth on April 5th 2008 until 31st May. The works on display were produced during the period 1983 to the present; these works represent many areas and countries on the Celtic sea road, including Morocco, Galicia, Brittany, Cornwall, Wales, Ireland, the Hebrides and Iceland.
Please give a brief description of one or two of the projects you've worked on recently.: "From Africa to Iceland", the book, published in December 2007 and the exhibition, "From Africa to Iceland", the National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth 5th April till 31st May 2008.
This is an artist's journey through space and time, exploring the Atlantic coast in search of beauty in nature and wilderness. It is also a study of the way people relate to their landscape through custom, vernacular architecture, language and work, and the ways in which these are linked beyond the national boundaries, which now exist. Above all, it is a search for beauty through the discipline of painting.
What are your views on the current arts scene nationally and in South Wales?: There is no National collection of contemporary art, and if there were there is no gallery in which to house it!
Website: www.johnrogersartist.co.uk
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