Mark Metcalfe: Altars – Love Under Will

JD Malat Gallery is thrilled to present Altars: Love Under Will, the debut solo exhibition of Mark Metcalfe, an exciting new voice in contemporary art. Drawing from an ongoing fascination with Jungian archetypes and the sacred feminine, this series delves into the deep connections between historical figurative art and the enduring symbols that seek to capture femininity, power, and mysticism.

Metcalfe's work pays homage to classical influences, particularly Goya's relationship with the Duchess of Alba, with whom he shared a penchant for capturing one of the many facets of femininity: delicacy. His reverence for the draperies, frills, and bows, meticulously rendered in his works, speaks to the enduring question of how femininity can be depicted in art. Altars: Love Under Will meditates on this archetypal mystery, exploring how these old themes are continually addressed in contemporary figurative painting.

 

The exhibition features five elemental paintings, each representing the fundamental forces of Fire, Air, Water, Earth, and Spirit. These pieces, displayed in the gallery's lounge area, evoke a rich esoteric quality, inviting the viewer to reflect on the metaphysical connections between the elements and the human experience. Metcalfe's symbolic approach infuses the works with a sense of ritualistic meaning, grounding his art in both the mystical and the material.