Ards Arts Centre welcomes two new exhibitions this month: Nostromo: Scenes from the Raft and Other Stories by Paul Reid and Lumen by Ross Miley.
Both solo exhibitions will open on Friday 29 May and run until Saturday 24 June.
Visual artist Paul Reid presents a new collection of paintings inspired by The Raft of the Medusa (1818–1819), the monumental oil painting by French Romantic painter Théodore Géricault. Taking the form of a reimagined sequence, as though the narrative of the painting were told on film, Reid offers a fragmented series of details that explore different aspects of the story, from the intimate and human to its wider colonial context.
The work explores class, colonialism and the experiences of ordinary people caught between these forces, in a world where truth is elusive, beauty is transient and technology both creates and destroys.
In Lumen, Greyabbey-based artist Ross Miley presents a series of abstract paintings exploring the changing moods of the natural world and their connection to human emotion. The work interprets the transitions of the seasons as dynamic, imagined landscapes that reflect both external and internal experiences.
Each piece uses bold colour and gesture to convey a sense of movement and transformation. Rather than depicting specific places, the paintings suggest sensations – warmth, stillness, vitality and reflection – inviting viewers to consider their own emotional responses to seasonal change.
Both exhibitions will open on Friday 29 May and run until Saturday 24 June. Admission is free.
All are welcome to an open reception on Thursday 4 June, 7–9pm, to view the artworks and meet the artists.
For more information on the exhibitions, visit; www.andculture.org.uk