3 – 4 Bartlett Street Bath BA1 2QZ

01225 460189 www.davidsimoncontemporary.com gallery@davidsimoncontemporary.com

Floribundance Absolute: Parastoo Ganjei & Chloë Holt RCA FRSA

7 July - 5 August 2017

Chloe Holt, Sol Parastoo Ganjei, Too Complicated

oil and gesso on canvas, 82 x 97.5cm acrylic on canvas, 76 x 101cm

The inspirational finesse of these two female artists’ work spans continents and histories, expressing their love of the natural objects of choice to paint, through texture, intensity and a stylishly limited palette of depth and tone, over quantity of colours. From England, to the Royal Palaces of Brunei, collectors are responding to the emotion compelling you when you are standing in front of Holt’s and Ganjei’s paintings. The techniques both artists employ are complicated and thoughtful, resulting in the type of work which draws you back again and again to notice more each time, and really marvel at the work. Of Persian heritage, like many of the rose varieties she paints, Ganjei beautifully captures the transitional moment of a flower reaching its fullest hour, amongst other roses and petals already passed, which is a theme current through both artists’ work; a celebration of the beauty of a flower as it continues on, changing shape and colour beyond its earlier days. Both women seek the rarest types of flowers and objects to paint, usually set against dark background colours – the particular type of old-fashioned, heavily petalled roses of strong scent and shorter life, of the kind Fantin-LaTour would have had in his studio. Holt comes back from the flower market laden with more flowers than could fill a shop, in order to create studio sets to paint. Holt also has a wide collection of ancient and antique objects each with their own story, which are handled with admiration and arranged interestingly throughout her studio and sets. Frames are also carefully considered; antique and treated or painted to suit the work contained. Her latest series of paintings is largely inspired by a recent trip to Venice, and it is perhaps not coincidental that she was awarded the "Lorenzo il Magnifico" Prize for works on Paper at Florence Biennale in 2010, and this year, Italy has been the location of her marriage proposal; a place reminiscent of the happy convergence of this special time in a career and personal journey. This is an exhibition absolutely not to be missed. Lucy Simon, June 2017

Chloe Holt is one of the youngest ever Academicians at the Royal Cambrian Academy to be elected and was selected by President and Keeper of the Royal Academy, London Maurice Cockrill RA in 2012. She was awarded Fellowship of RSA (HRH Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts,

Manufacturers and Commerce) in 2003. Prizes include Kyffin Williams Drawing Prize, 2012 and "Lorenzo il Magnifico" Prize for works on Paper at Florence Biennale, 2010

Parastoo Ganjei, comes from an artistic family, with a grandfather who was a prominent painter in Iran. Ganjei studied fine art in Iran and Sussex and is a graduate of Bournemouth University. Exhibiting widely in the United Kingdom, her work is in many private collections around the world including the Royal Family of Brunei.

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Visitor Information: Opening Times: Monday – Saturday 10am – 6pm, Wednesday 2pm – 6pm. David Simon Contemporary, 4 Bartlett Street, Bath, BA1 2QZ 01225 460189 www.davidsimoncontemporary.com gallery@davidsimoncontemporary.com