Painter Ilona Scott-Barzen – who signs her work simply I. Scott – says there’s an old adage that comes from her native South Africa.
“They say you can take the African out of Africa, but you can’t take Africa out of the African,” she said.
That’s very true of her current series of vibrantly-hued acrylic works that render African figures more symbolically than representionally – gestural icons that eschew individual detail. These works will be on display at the Rock Family Art Gallery in Mission from Nov. 8 to 26.
Using simplified forms, Scott-Barzen successfully evokes the cooking pot-carrying families of rural areas; the grace of strong, composed, self-assured women in traditional garb; the jaunty attitudes of gossiping young urban girls; even the powerful dignity of spear-carrying Serengeti warriors dedicated to defending homes and families from predators.
“(The art) is a testament to who they are and what they represent,” she said. “They’re not depicted as individuals but rather as a collective – which is very much an African idea.”
Scott-Barzen, who in daily life is a lawyer, came to Canada in 2010 to work with a company providing legal expense insurance.
But her painting sideline has been connecting well with Canadian viewers, she said, leading to steady sales of originals and smaller reproductions, and some commissions – including a recent one in White Rock. But she does miss the opportunity of being able to present her art in physical gallery settings during the current pandemic.
“I have thought about doing an online show, but it’s not the same thing – you don’t get the full experience of the colours,” she said.
“People have said my paintings are very warm – I think because the colours are very vibrant, people get a smile when they see them. With COVID, life is like a desert, so this is a little warmth coming into the house.”
Because art is not something she does full time, she feels each piece she paints is a genuine expression for her.
“People have said they have seen a little bit of my soul in the paintings,” she said.
“I don’t think art could ever be a full-time job for me, which means every painting is very heartfelt. Inspiration has to hit.”
- With reporting by Alex Browne, Peace Arch News
READ MORE: PUMPKIN CARVING