Paintings on Chinese Nautical Charts

Alisan Fine Arts. Ends June 23

Richard Texier's exhibition Paintings on Chinese Nautical Charts at Alisan Fine Arts is more than a fusion of eastern and western styles. It's also an exploration of the artist's mind.

'Texier's concepts are original,' says gallery owner Alice King. 'He's not using maps to look for a street as we usually do. He paints on them.'

On show are 17 works in ink and colour on old Chinese naval charts, featuring abstract shapes that symbolise navigational instruments such as compasses, sextants, dividers and protractors linked by flowing brushstrokes.

Brought up on the Atlantic coast of France, Texier paints on maps to show his connection with the sea, which has been his source of inspiration for the past 20 years. 'I love water. It's a mystery for everyone,' he says.

Not only do maps serve as the materials for Texier to paint on, they also become his subjects. King says Texier's works involve two kinds of maps: the nautical charts on which he paints and his own work, with numbers, signs and directions forming another layer of map on top of the charts.

Concurring with King's view, Texier says that the maps he paints aren't practical. 'They're mind maps. I paint to visit my mind.'

He also says the nature of his maps shifts during the course of painting.

'At the beginning, it's a map in its most functional sense, depicting a country and a coastline. But it becomes a work of art at the end, describing the visions and the worldviews of the artist,' he says.

It's difficult to explain the visual verbally, especially when it comes to a surrealist artist like Texier. Asked how he relates his works to surrealism, which he has been celebrating throughout his decades-long career, he says they're all about dreams, free associations, chances and uncertainties.

'Whenever I begin to paint I never know where I'll go exactly. I just freely explore my mind on the maps. I don't know the results until I finish painting,' he says.

The key to his work lies in the process of its creation. Like a common view of travelling, it's more about the journey than the destination.

Texier is not only a collector of Chinese maps, but also maps from around the world. The Chinese map-works exhibited in the show form only a small part of his collection.

Texier's mind map is huge, like the sea for which he has a lifelong passion.

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