From the Press Release:
Jean-Pierre Lorand and Eduardo Ungar are two of the world’s leading naïve artists, Lorand from Belgium and Ungar from Argentina. Each brings his own unique approach and personality to his paintings, portraying moments and stories with different pallets and styles. A closer look however reveals similarities that bind the two.
Eduardo Ungar, born in 1947 in Buenos Aires, studied ceramics and oil painting and has exhibited in his native Argentina as well as in France, Israel, Switzerland, Venezuela and the United States.
Placing the human narrative in the spotlight, Ungar portrays an enlightening array of spontaneous situations and scenes that evoke laughter and empathy, creating an immediate feeling of connection. We see couples dancing lightly to the beat of a tango, waiters serving food in a crowded restaurant, a group of friends passing the time playing billiards in a cozy bar, flower stands nourished with color and vitality where saleswomen chat away, a man courting his lover at the door with a bouquet while the household bursts with curiosity.
In Ungar’s works, we see large figures characterized by round contours and volume. Facial expressions are apparent, yet subtle; body language and movement tell us a story within a story. In his artworks, Ungar unravels a spectrum of mood: warmth, excitement, jealously, boredom, contemplation and intimacy. His compositions have depth and perspective typically characterized by curves and enlarged forms – at times resembling the images we see when we look through a magnifying glass. Frequently, we find mirrors and corridors that add an illusion of space to the painting. Surfaces and settings are distinguished by textures and patterns accentuating this very illusion of depth. A lone street light, a lamp in a dark bar, or the warmth of moonlight outdoors cast the light and shadow that characterize the world of Ungar.
While Ungar portrays scenes that are familiar to us, yet are seasoned with humor and color that portray them in a different light, Jean-Pierre Lorand’s artworks hold a story-like ambience, carefully setting scenes to create unique effects. He, like Ungar, shares a love for romance and the joys of life, which are evoked for us with exceptional talent.
Jean-Pierre Lorand, born in 1939 in Valenciennes, Belgium, began his artistic career in 1977 and is a self taught artist who has exhibited in his native Belgium as well as in Canada, France, Israel, Switzerland and the United States.
Composing well-balanced pieces with charm and delicacy, Lorand paints frozen moments in time with peaceful precision that soothes the eye. We see a romantic serenade along the river, a precious moment sipping tea in the garden, sailors sitting on the grass for their daily lunch break, a cozy nap in a hammock, a shepherd bundling a lamb towards the horizon, two bicyclists passing one another on a sunny day, pausing for a short hello.
Lorand’s works typically take place in the outdoors and, while his figures are central, they are complemented by a well-designed cinematic setting. Every tree, lamppost and simple object is placed meticulously in the composition, like pieces of a puzzle, creating a scene that is eternal and epic. Objects such as a cuddly cat or an expanding accordion as well as the positions and body movement of figures create a distinct atmosphere in each painting — whether it be lazy, romantic, sweet or hopeful. These equally important elements are developed using light and shade, which accentuate their volume and weight. Lorand juxtaposes clean lines and smooth textures with special detail that captivates and focuses our attention.
GINA Gallery is proud and honored to host this exceptional “duet”, an exhibition of artworks by Jean-Pierre Lorand and Eduardo Ungar. These works are a symphony of storybook and spontaneity, daily life and drama, which spark our imaginations and draw us into the artists’ unique worlds. In this remarkable exhibition, Lorand and Ungar enrich our lives and souls and, in the process, make the naïve world — and our world — a heart’s delight.
