Forum Gallery is a favorite gallery to visit when in mid-town Manhattan, especially for lovers of the figure, and it's current exhibit does not disappoint. The Platonic Ideal, running October 1st to November 28th, includes almost thirty painters, sculptors and artists, with many pieces offering contemplations on humanity through the figure. The works fall into three main categories, paintings, sculpture and works on paper, covering contemporary to early 20th century works.
Of the paintings in this exhibit, several artists working directly with the figure are well represented here. Reflection by William Bailey welcomes the viewer into the gallery. A female figure gazes at us, toying with her hair, her figure framed by the balance in the lines of the room surrounding her. Nearby, Prelude by Alan Feltus is similarly infused by lines, yet the tense figure in this painting is an echo of the surrounding chaos of objects surrounding this figure. Suite for Piano by Carlo Maria Mariani is a musical number - so to speak - the floating woman in this painting radiating a creative energy and physical motion.
Alan Feltus, Prelude, 2008. Oil on canvas (47 1/4 x 39 1/4in).
Of the sculptures shown in The Platonic Ideal, we saw a nice selection of early 20th century figurative sculpture. Torso by Alexander Archipenko is a wonder of simplicity and elegance, the smooth flowing lines of the form moving into each other. Several portraits in this show included Female Head by Elie Nadelman and the monumental Centurione Petrificato by Igor Mitoraj, a large antiquated head, of seemingly Roman origins - clearly reflective if not heroic. Hugo Robus' The General, Dawn, and Elie Nadelman's Woman Dressing Another Woman's Hair, make complete use of the figure, depicting scenes and emotions that show the expressive nature of figurative arts. |
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William Bailey, Reflection.
Oil on canvas, 60 x 60 in
Carlos Maria Mariani, Suite for Piano, 2008.
Oil on canvas (50 x 31in)
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