Art for Guernsey are delighted to present, the eagerly awaited, A Renaissance of Victor Hugo. Featuring the work of internationally acclaimed Daniel Hosego and Oleg Mikhailov.
Both artists are incredibly versatile and contemporary in their approach, while still strongly influenced by the Renaissance and its myriad symbols and metaphors. They have been tasked with the daunting mission of revisiting the legacy of the ultimate ‘Renaissance Man’ in Guernsey, Victor Hugo. Both artists have produced jaw-dropping, museum-quality artworks that will undoubtedly inspire our community and constitute a tier-one artistic legacy for the island.
As an artist, Daniel engages in a conceptually motivated practice that explores the perception of ‘value’ in a secular, post-religion-centric world and the role of the artist within that society.
Drawing on the writings of Nietzsche and Dostoevsky concerning the re-evaluation of values in the face of the ‘death of God’ and appropriating the visual language of Albrecht Durer among other Renaissance artists, Daniel creates intricately hand-drawn compositions layered with allusions to both Renaissance and contemporary culture.
These compositions are then recreated using modern, Pop culture, mass
production printing techniques to transform the work into an up-to-date discussion of artistic frustration within the fragmentation characteristic of the modern world.
“In the past religion was an incontestable truth, science was merely a tool for proving that truth, and art a vessel for celebrating it. Today science has superseded religion as the ‘truth’ of our society, but science comes with none of religion’s moral values. If people don’t believe in God why should they live by his ethical code? If not his code, where should we derive our perception of value from?”
Internationally acclaimed Russian artist and printmaker Oleg Mikhailov is obsessed with the sea, his abiding subject and the source of his dreams and inspiration:
“I am a water man. I take a fishing rod or mask and flippers and strive to find depth in a mysterious world.”
Oleg studied painting and printmaking at the renowned St Petersburg Academy of Arts. The classical grounding he received gives a formal strength to his drawing, an ability to move seamlessly between depth and flatness that can only be developed through long hours in the studio and a close observation of light and the natural world.
Initially specialising in etching, Oleg’s love of lithography came in his fourth year at college. For him, lithography is close to painting and drawing, and working on stone provides ample opportunities for creativity. Best of all is the sense of the past:
“Several generations of artists have worked on these stones [and] I believe they receive the energy of many artists, even back to ancient times.”
It is fitting that the delicate limestone Oleg uses is composed of sea creatures, compressed on the seabed until they are turned into stone, to create an aquatic world full of movement and life.
Oleg’s career has been extremely successful and his artworks can be found in most of the major Russian and Chinese museums. He spends more than six months per year in China where he is venerated for his calligraphic style and is frequently guest of honour at key international exhibitions.
Oleg’s career has been extremely successful and his artworks can be found in most of the major Russian and Chinese museums. He spends more than six months per year in China where he is venerated for his calligraphic style and is frequently guest of honour at key international exhibitions.
LIMITED EDITION
EXILE VICTOR HUGO RUM
In 1851 Victor Hugo was forced to flee from France when the tyrannical Napoleon III came to power. By the time he landed on the small island of Guernsey in 1855, the exiled writer was in desperate need of asylum.
He proclaimed Guernsey his ‘rock of hospitality and freedom’ in his seafaring novel Toilers of the Sea, and would make it his home for over 15 years. During this period, undistracted and determined, Hugo poured his energy into masterpieces like his epic novel Les Misérables, and enjoyed the most sustained period of productivity in his life.
EXILE is a botanical rum incorporating a blend of four rums from the Caribbean and Americas, aged for eight to 10 years and infused with local citrus and spiced botanicals.
If you would like to purchase this fine rum please contact Luke Wheadon at CI Liqour Company on 07797 754516 or email luke@ciliquorco.com
“We are excited to be partnering with Art for Guernsey for A Renaissance of Victor Hugo. Collas Crill is an offshore law firm with clients across the world and we hope that the exhibition will attract global interest, given Victor Hugo’s literary legacy and the astounding international artists involved. We are proud to celebrate Guernsey’s cultural heritage with the local community and beyond.”
CHRISTIAN HAY
Guernsey Managing Partner and Head of Dispute Resolution at Collas Crill
ENRICHING OUR ISLAND
OUR LEGACY
We have been working in the Bailiwick since 2016, bringing art exhibitions, events and creative activities of the highest standards of delivery and engagement to the community, from early education to care homes and everyone in between. We have reached not just our own community but far beyond our shores too. We always strive to inspire our community, innovate in our delivery, reach significant audiences and support future generations, combining creativity with impact.
