Switched on Bunnies: An online solo show of new paintings by Tony Beaver

In his paintings, Tony Beaver's artistic mission revolves around elevating the ordinary to extraordinary heights, a theme vividly explored time and time again by the artist, right from his Potato series, which Cavaliero Finn exhibited in the gallery's first few shows, to his depiction of his comedic heroes, Tommy Cooper, Kenneth Williams and Charles Hawtrey, to the Rabbits and Guinea Pigs featured in his latest series, "Switched on Bunnies".

 

The focal point for this series of paintings, is the humble rabbit and its rival the equally cute guinea pig, both ostensibly commonplace small domestic creatures, which undergo a mesmerising metamorphosis under Tony's masterful brushstrokes, transforming the ordinary into the extraordinary. 

 

Far from the stereotypical image of the cute and cuddly, unassuming small domestic pet that many of us have succumbed to sharing our lives with when our children are small, the rabbits and guinea pigs depicted in this series radiate an otherworldly luminosity. It's as though they're illuminated from within, each one appearing to be "plugged in" to an inner source of vitality and energy.

 

The canvas becomes a playground for Tony's exploration of transformation and evolution. The surface of these fluffy small animals seems to crackle with an electric charge, symbolizing a shift from innocence to a more profound, ethereal existence. These paintings capture a journey-a transition from the mundane to a state of being where the spirit is fully realized.

 

The artist's magic in these artworks is palpable: the paint itself becomes a living, breathing entity on the canvas. It fizzes, bristles, and throbs with vibrant life, mirroring the pulsating energy emanating from these remarkable subjects. The artist's meticulous attention to detail and his skilful manipulation of colour and texture create a visual symphony that invites viewers to witness the vibrancy of existence through the lens of his art.