Matthew Krishanu

Matthew Krishanus is a British artist who explores themes such as childhood, race, religion, art history, family, grief, and love through his paintings, which often feature Brown people, especially children. His work questions the positions of his painterly subjects and depictions of landscapes in relation to the legacy of European colonialism and the art historical canon. This first trade monograph presents a number of series of Krishanus works, made in oil and/or acrylic on canvas, linen or board, with the earliest produced in 2007 and the most recent completed in 2022. The publication features essays by Mark Rappolt and Dorothy Price, alongside an interview with the artist by Ben Luke. Rappolt highlights key themes within Krishanus' oeuvre, such as power, religion, identity, and memory, while Price writes sensitively about solitude, memory, and emotion. Krishanu's work explores the puzzle of painting and the complexities of human experience.

Format: Hardback
Length: 192 pages
Publication date: 28 March 2023
Publisher: Anomie Publishing

Matthew Krishanus' paintings delve into a wide range of themes, encompassing childhood, race, religion, art history, family, grief, and love. His subjects, often portrayed as Brown individuals, particularly children, are brought to life with a shallow visual depth, delicate washes of color, and a sense of inner life. Through this artistic approach, Krishanu challenges the positions of his painterly subjects and depictions of landscapes in relation to the legacy of European colonialism and the art historical canon.

Krishanus' artistic practice is deeply influenced by his early childhood experiences in Dhaka, where his parents relocated to work for the Church of Bangladesh. This monograph, his first trade publication, showcases a series of Krishanus' works, including Another Country, Expatriates, Mission, House of God, Religious Workers, and In Sickness and In Health. The paintings featured in the publication have been created using oil and/or acrylic on canvas, linen, or board, with the earliest produced in 2007 and the most recent completed in 2022.

The publication includes essays by Mark Rappolt and Dorothy Price, along with an interview with the artist conducted by Ben Luke. Rappolt, the Editor-in-Chief of ArtReview magazine, delves into the diverse worlds portrayed within Krishanus' paintings. He highlights key themes within Krishanus' oeuvre, such as power, religion, identity, and memory, while emphasizing its avoidance of didacticism and its carefully crafted ambivalence. Through an examination of key works like Mission School (2017), Mountain Tent (Two Boys) (2020), and Playground (2020), Rappolt highlights the artist's ability to create works that are both visually compelling and thought-provoking.

Price, a Professor of Modern and Contemporary Art and Visual Culture at The Courtauld, writes sensitively about solitude, memory, and emotion that are palpable within Krishanus' work. In particular, the series In Sickness and In Health, which traces the life path of Krishanus' late wife, Uschi Gatward, over sixteen years, showcases the artist's ability to capture the essence of human experiences and emotions.

Overall, Matthew Krishanus' paintings offer a profound exploration of various themes, challenging the viewer to consider the complexities of human experiences and the impact of historical events on our understanding of the world. Through his meticulous attention to detail and his ability to evoke emotions, Krishanus creates works that are both visually stunning and deeply meaningful.

Dimension: 295 x 245 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781910221334