Shibui - Gallery 6 Newark

SHIBUI

A solo exhibition by Mark Purllant

15.03.2023 – 29.04.2023

Shibui (渋い) (adjective), shibumi (渋み) (noun), or shibusa (渋さ) (noun) are Japanese words that refer to a particular aesthetic of simple, subtle, and unobtrusive beauty.

Mark is a visual artist, working in a variety of materials both sculpturally and two dimensionally. His work is connected to the balance he sees, in life, societies, nature or the philosophical. He is drawn to how through the chaos, contrasts highlight our perceptions and therefore reactions. How tensions and harmony, tranquillity and energy jostle to strengthen the fragility of the worlds balance.

Mark’s work has developed through creativity, innovation and knowledge, into a fine crafted conceptual abstraction, but throughout there are references of the human form and its movement. The developed process is now purely intuitive and reactionary, perhaps only possible through his particular interests, experiences and skills.

The immediate aesthetics are one of beauty, but delve deeper and there are questions and narratives around our relationships with each other and our environment.

His pieces impose comments of; ‘just simply beautiful’, ‘it is so soothing and exciting at the same time”, and ‘from the moment I saw your work, I was totally mesmerised. It is the first time a sculpture takes my soul and goes that far. It is a mix between joy, dancing, and being free, in a time that is full of anxiety. Thank you for sending these sparks through your inspiring work’.

Mark’s work is widely collected across the world and he is currently working on several commissions including a private client in Singapore and a public group here in the UK. Last year he was selected as part of the acclaimed International Aesthetic Art Prize’s Futures Group.

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