Art lovers recently had the chance to snap up work by some exciting up and coming artists at a diverse exhibition that took place at the Bohemia Night Gallery in Woodbrook. The 4th annual Mindscape Art Exhibition ran from November 28 to December 5.
Although the exhibition which was organised by artists Dominic Gomes and Gicelle Ann Magloire Mayers is over, there is still an opportunity to see and purchase some art.
Mindscape featured seven local artists showcasing paintings, jewelry and custom-designed T-shirts. Apart from Gomes and Mayers, featured artists included jewelry designers Cibele Horsham Rauseo and Kristy Collado, artists Joel Lijertwood and Marin Gonzales and T-shirt designer Troy Hadeed.
Gomes and Mayers began working on the show together after a mutual friend introduced them. For the first three years, the show was a one-night production held at Ibiza Restaurant and Lounge. This is the first year Mindscape has been a week-long event and changed location.
Gomes says they plan to expand even more for next year's exhibit.
When Gomes and Mayers met, they had painting in common and have been inspiration and influences to each other ever since. Both artists have been painting since they were pre-teens but Mayers, 30, said working with Gomes gave her the confidence to finally show her work in public.
"I used to just show my work to family and friends so this is a big deal and it Dominic was really the mastermind behind that," she said during an interview at Bohemia, 33 Murray Street, Woodbrook.
Mayers is also a yoga teacher and massage therapist, while Gomes, 30, works as a musician. The influence of these activities can be seen in both their work. Gomes presented a series of paintings of musicians such as Esperanza Spalding and Bob Marley. "My work started off abstract but I really wanted to express how people look and feel on stage. So this series has been like a case study with faces for me. The pieces directly stem from me being a musician," said Gomes.
Paintings like Chakra Popcorn by Mayers reflect the influence yoga philosophy has on her work. In Hindu tradition, chakras are major points on the human body. Mayers said her work is more vibrant not that it's in the public sphere. "I use a lot more colour now and before I would paint in themes but now I have many separate ideas that I just put together. I dream a lot and I try to paint the things that I dream so it's very abstract," she said.
Mindsacpe opened and closed with live, open-mic music and poetry. This has been a key aspect of the Mindscape atmosphere –providing a space where everyone is invited to express themselves. According to Mayers, a major achievement of Mindscape has been getting a variety of people to come out to the show. "I enjoy the relaxed atmosphere of the show and the fact that people who wouldn't usually come out to art shows came and they enjoyed it. If I really had to describe the exhibit, I would say this is a place where you let your hair down," said Mayers.
�2 If you're interested in Mindscape and would like to order prints of paintings and other work exhibited in the show, check out the Facebook page: Mindscape An Art Exhibition.