Nordic Forest –
on occasion of the 50th anniversary of Sibelius’
death
Opened by Mrs Pauli Grindrod
This series of paintings originates
from my visit to Finland. During my stay in Finland, I was very much awed by the Nordic landscape and I could almost
sense Tapio, the Finnish sylvan god, roaming deep in his realm of the dark forest. The
grey and gloomy dusking sky is so overpowering in this silent corner of the world, amidst
the unsympathetic trees, whose strong branches wiggles only sporadically, completely
oblivious of any passers-bys. I was first chilled to the bones by such ruthlessness and
the complete indifference to our worldliness modern attitude then I realized that I was
staring at the path to wisdom and enlightenment right in the eyes. Now all these become a
mesmerizing figment of my imagination which I endeavor to preserve on canvas.
It is ironic that in this daunting and
yet soundless environment, I could almost hear Sibelius’s tone poem, Tapiola,
with forest deities materializing through sound waves. It is thus appropriate for me to
dedicate the exhibition to Finland’s greatest composer, Jean Sibelius (1865 – 1957),
commemorating the 50th anniversary of his death. |
