In Gardner’s circular painting series, colour is used in purely abstract techniques, referencing artists from the colour field and op art movement such Kenneth Noland and Bridget Riley. In these works, circular stripes of colour radiate outward from a central miniature depiction of a greyscale mountain. Gardner refers to these circular paintings as “portals”, as if to say that by viewing them, we become transported to another place and time through a hypnotising radiation of colour.
Gardner exhibits the circular portal works in parallel with larger landscapes. The result of these pairings is a play between colour, movement and our perspective and entrance into the landscape, and ultimately Gardner’s reflection on the human psyche and our impermanence in life. Being cognisant of his personal struggles dealing with genetic diseases passed down in his family and a rebellious youth filled with hardships, painting has become a way for Gardner to express his celebration and gratefulness of life as a father and artist.
The figures depicted are people in Gardner’s personal life, whereas the landscapes are sometimes fictitious or drawn from an image archive. The result is a positive reminder to embrace the moment, celebrate life with family and friends, reflect on the beauty of nature, whether real or imagined as a way to remind us of our interconnectedness and mortality.
– Kelly Foster, Curator