Various Styles

There is a traditional painterly approach to painting in which the techniques and styles run the gamut from impressionism, surrealism and symbolism to neo-expressionism, postmodernism and so forth. These artists place figuration at the service of illustrative concerns, whether those interests are philosophical, spiritual, emotional, historical, anecdotal, mythical or symbolical. Paintings by Robert Sylvain, Sylla, Kristo (Christian Nicolas), Dominik Ambroise and Alpi (Alphonse Piard) generally fall into this category.

Looking at Alpi’s paintings is like leaping into a world of voluptuousness, lyricism and finesse — a world of the artist’s own making. At first, there is a feeling of being lost in a network of abstraction and even, at times, phantasmagoria. However, after an adaptation period, the images seem to progressively shift into focus and the contours become sharper until the eyes start to distinguish familiar shapes and recognizable objects. From what seemed at first to be a field of undefined elements, the mind soon begins to distinguish leaves, flowers, butterflies and occasionally human figures.

These known elements are rendered with such intricacy that instead of appearing out of place each is seen as a natural element of the whole. The most striking aspects of Alpi’s works are the minute details, neatness and graphic qualities of his imagery. One is mesmerized by his display of calligraphic virtuosity that reminds us of the works of Cy Twombly and Mark Tobey. His works also convey needlework of the highest skill, like in awe-inspiring embroidered pieces on skirts, bedcovers and tablecloths.

The complete article can be found in Issue #277 of the Tokyo Journal. Click here to order from Amazon.