The Tribune

By ALESHA CADET

Tribune Features Reporter

BAHAMIAN artist Marco Mullings is bringing art lovers a taste of vibrant colour, mixed with bold patterns in his new solo art exhibit "DAB".

The nature-inspired collection debuted last night at the Central Bank of the Bahamas Gallery. The 35 pieces on display will be available for viewing until the end of May.

In his new collection, Mr Mulling said he attempted new approaches to his work, like painting on a wood canvas, and using hints of metallic paint. He also took on an uncharacteristic style of using light, dotted strokes to create each piece. This was the inspiration of the show's title.

"I felt like I was dabbing the entire time that I was working with the paint brush. This is evident in the textured look most of the pieces take on. I was trying to achieve a wet look on the canvas that would remain and also build the texture. This is now my fifth solo art show along with many others," he told Tribune Entertainment.

The exhibition also sees Mr Mullings reverting to his roots, in which he used oil paints for the first time in almost a decade, he said.

When asked about his inspirations, he simply said he is inspired by everything around him. From sights and sounds to colors and experiences, he takes advantage of nature and what is before him.

"Using color as my biggest tool I seek to bring my vision to things around me. It is the creative process that drives me as I start with the unintentional and through splatting and combining colors that my subject matter grows. I view art as my release and my platform to express parts of myself that you may not see," said Mr Mulling, who is also an avid Junkanoo designer.

In viewing his work, he said it is almost like viewing two images in one, because the colours lend themselves to different forms inside the one image, and so do the patterns and shapes.

The art pieces in the DAB exhibit range in size from 8 by 16 inches to 6 by 4 feet, being the largest.

"The piece 'Just Being Me', I think highlights my style and approach to art work and where I am as an artist, not caring about color on subject matter. I think this is what is unique about my work also the fact that I am working in series a lot. Not that this is new, but not that many people are doing it," said Mr Mullings.

Even now with the collection on show, Mr Mullings said he is still working, which all artists should do.

"That is the only way you get better and also that's when some of the experimenting and finding the little things that may not always make it to the final cut, but help in the learning and technique process," said Mr Mullings.