Barrie Szekely “Yardsquare” by Debora Alanna

“Yardsquare”. A Non sequitur. Mischievous, there is care and timeless clarity, a visual amphigory that draws us into Barrie Szekely’s work. We need the essential nonsense he necessitates: “…The artist must be blind to ‘recognized’ and ‘unrecognized’ form, deaf to the teachings and desires of his time. His open eyes must be directed to his inner life and his ears must be constantly attuned to the voice of inner necessity. “ ([1])

Surface skids and breaks within the black on black or stained wood. Brave abandon of delightfully unique living entities compile formations that juxtapose with ovoid configurations. Architecture’s dream or nature’s reminiscence alert, perching with presence. . “…wherever you are, you find the sun, a blade of grass, the spirals of the dragonfly. Courage consists of staying at home, close to nature, which could not care less about our disasters. Each grain of dust contains the soul of something marvellous.”([2])
These paintings reveal oblique views of mindful renderings intimately considered. With familial ideas connecting to Miro and Calder, Kandinsky, at least, Szekely discloses indirect aspirations in unhindered moments. Szekely’s work discloses his vision on voids, yards of squaring where volumes of stillness seek to understand. Each work takes time to interact with what acknowledges and sometimes follows the quondam precepts of surrealism and constructivism, for example. In spite of the unease of synaptic glimpses within forms, Szekely slows us down. There is no rush. The work punctuates with uncanny longings, with extraordinary collocation. There is no brisk incision of a Victor Pasmore line, or the ready movement of Eduardo Arranz-Bravo’s non-figurative works. Szekely’s emplacement of form insists on an insurgence of quietude that disarms and we alight on what does not follow rational thought.
A leaf or wisp of feathery branch or the unhurried extension point of a straight line touches the precipice of understanding. Multiples of reverie interplay on wooden square voids, foundations to a vortex of blackness resolutely staying the undercurrent of our habit of speedy consumption. Motionless, disparate demonstrations of creature-like oddities, of nature are tender renderings to marvel, rooting attentive glimpses of abstracted considerations. “It was not that the figure had been removed, not that the figures had been swept away, but the symbols for the figures for the figures, and in turn the shapes in the later canvases were substitutes for the figures… …these new shapes say… …what the symbols said...” ([3])
Unpredictable, Barrie Szekely engages and trumps the resourceful imaginings of the past with dynamic efficiency, propounding hilarious inspirations to envelop the largess of nonsense. Significance intertwines with colour, with shape, with our wits. Preternatural, his work humbles, engaging enigmatic ideals found in any fable. “Modesty is the conscience of the body.” ([4]) Embodied in “Yardsquare” are absurdities that Szekely playfully paints to our cognitive advantage with unpretentious conscientiousness. The non sequitur here requires our diligence to be an enthusiast for what we reluctantly value. “And the old Fishes said, "Above all things, avoid eating a blue boss-woss; for they do not agree with fishes, and give them a pain in their toes."([5])
NB To augment your visual experience with Barrie Szekely’s “Yardsquare,” an astute catalogue essay by John Luna accompanies this Slide Room exhibition.

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[1] ”Concerning the spiritual in Art”, Wassily Kandinsky, Munich, 1911
[2] ‘Où allez-vous Miró?’ (Where do you go, Miró), Georges Duthuit in Cahiers d’Art 11, nos. 8-10, 1936; as quoted in “Calder Miró”, ed. Elizabeth Hutton Turner / Oliver Wick; Philip Wilson Publishers, London 2004, p. 40
[3] “Expressionism”, David Anfam, Thames and Hudson Ltd London, 1990, p. 142
[4] de Balzac, Honore. “Comedie Humaine” 1841.
[5] Lear, Edward. “The Habits of the Seven Families” Chapter III. 1894. http://www.gutenberg.org/files/13650/13650-h/13650-h.htm#children

“Yardsquare” - Slide Room Gallery - 2549 Quadra St. -Victoria BC - March 4 to April 4, 2011