David Asher brook - Memories of Place (Figures & Landscapes)

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David Asher Brook

Memories of Place (Figures & Landscapes):  A selection of new works, plus rare paintings from Brook’s private stash of earlier explorations based on specific locations. David Asher Brook’s style is unique, fascinating & quirky, and has overtones of romantic wanderings in the search for peace and harmony amidst the often chaotic moments of modern life.       

"I paint because there's something about the state it puts me in, I would describe this as a state of emergency where that moment feels important and unexpected. It is when I am rushing for blue, black and green all at the same time because I’ve seen something in the world or in my mind's eye that I must try to put down as fast as I can before it changes or the notion drifts away.  Sometimes it is many of these things all at once. 

That is a state to be in, and I feel that in those moments I am painting.

My life paintings are almost entirely painted outside. I was blind to the clouds until recently. It was after seeing this quote by John Constable: "that landscape painter who does not make his skies a very material part of his composition neglects to avail himself of one of his greatest aids” they (clouds) have now become of interest to me. I’ve spent many hours swiping and curling my fingers around the sky, trying not to care and trying to be so delicate like air at the same time."  

BIO;   

Born in Sydney, Australia, with Iraqi, Singaporean and English background, David Asher Brook is a visual artist working in painting and tapestry. He studied Fine Arts at the National Art School and holds a Graduate Diploma of Heritage Conservation from the Sydney University School of Architecture.

Winner of the 2010 Waverley Art Oil Painting Prize and the 2016 Eva Breuer Memorial Prize, David has been a four-time finalist in the NSW Parliament Plein Air Painting Prize, and finalist in The Blake Prize, Salon des Refusés, Paddington Art Prize, Fleurieu Biennale Art Prize and the Brett Whiteley Travelling Artist Scholarship.

Significant collections and commissions include the Library of Congress Washington D.C., The Visual Commentary on Scripture at King's College, London, the Jewish Museum of Australia, Victoria and the Polish Consulate, Sydney. 

David Asher Brook is currently represented by Fox Galleries, Melbourne and Rex-Livingston Art in Katoomba, NSW.

For John Cruthers, Sydney based art advisor, curator, writer and collector, David Asher Brooks´ work has …qualities deeper than technique, such as sensibility, attitude and heart. And I think this is what is special about David´s painting. In fact, what is special about David´s painting is David – his life, his thoughts, his feelings – and his willingness to share these with us in the paintings… they breathe love, wonder, tenderness, abandon, compassion, loss – and faith.

(John Cruthers 2019).