tcc is pleased to present KHRŌMA: Hues of The Subconscious Mind, a solo exhibition by Jeremy Ramsey, a British born Singaporean artist who has lived in Singapore since 1956. A collection of his still-life, abstract and landscape paintings from a period covering about 15 years will be on display at the tcc ‘The Gallery’ from 6 July to 30 September 2010.
Jeremy Ramsey is principally known for his colour filled paintings that reflect strong modernist art elements. Coming back to full time art after a hiatus of about 40 years when Ramsey enjoyed a successful career as a businessman, he has for the last two decades worked as a full time painter. He has been exploring subject matter such as the figure, still life and landscape expressed in a very unique and often abstract format. Colour is a central theme that runs throughout his oeuvre, expressing emotions and feelings in a free-spirited manner that emerges from his subconscious mind. Ramsey says, “My sense of colour is probably influenced by having lived a life in the sun and the brilliance of many years in the east without which I would not have been able to paint”.
For many artists colour is very powerful and is something one should use with caution but not for Ramsey, he almost has a hunger for brightness and no fear of expressing the varied hues one next to the other. In the practice of art, often there is no linear progression of thought and ideas. Concerns and connections come from different sources not necessarily from one realization leading to the next. The subconscious mind gathers ideas, concerns, and emotions that merge with one and other, and through the lens of memories and life experiences the mind expresses ethereal qualities such that exist in Ramsey’s paintings.
Through his intimate relationship with his material and medium, various cultural aspects emerge in Ramsey’s work from aboriginal art to African and modernist art influences such as Matisse and Picasso. Finally, it is only through a deep understanding and assimilation of many years of explorations in the world of art and aesthetics that this septuagenarian’s canvases can burst forth alive with such colour and depth. Ramsey says, “I simply use my feelings to express the age in which we live, and my work is wide open to interpretation”.
KHRŌMA: Hues of the Subconscious Mind exhibition is part of an ongoing series of art events brought to you by tcc, an ardent advocate of the arts and recipient of the Patron of the Arts Award from 2007 - 2009.
Since 2004, tcc has brought in numerous local and foreign artists like Jamie Paul, Frank MacKenzie, Loh Khee Yew, Ian Castronovo, Jose Marta Bustos, Jean-Pierre Blanchard, Hans Mendler and most recently, Sun Yu-li. tcc believes strongly in nurturing artists and their works, and have been actively supporting the arts by bringing art closer to the masses in a cosy and relaxed café atmosphere. tcc art boutiques are lined with inspirational art collections, where guests can appreciate artworks over a truly exceptional cup of coffee.
About the artist
Jeremy Ramsey has exhibited internationally in Asia, Australia, USA and Britain, and has been the Honorary President of the Modern Art Society in Singapore for several years. He has exhibited his work at prestigious locations such as the Fukuoka City Art Museum in Japan, The University of Guangzhou China, The National Museum of Art in Singapore and The Redfern Gallery in London.
The distinguished Art Critic for The Times of London, John Russell Taylor, recently wrote a book on Ramsey’s work entitled “The Art of Jeremy Ramsey”.
