The Indian Series

In 1993 Gerry revisited the country of his birth, returning several times since then to gather more research for his paintings, which are a response to the light and heat of North West India, in particular the state of Rajasthan. The richness of colour in the folk art, its unbroken link with the past, and the uncompromising heat and aridity of the Thar desert provided him with powerful and enduring memories. He used oblique references to architectural forms and artefacts which symbolize elemental forces, and suggested the passage of time and the complexity of Indian culture through layering and scraping down the paint surface. These transparent layers of paint allow glimpses of previous forms, and through their ambiguity, invite the viewer to bring a personal interpretation into play.