'Banana Plant Scene IX (Paris Garden)' oil on canvas, 140 x 170cm, 2023
'Plantation By The Riverside (Banana Plant Scene VIII)' oil on canvas, 136 x 170cm, 2023 (Private Collection, Penarth, Wales)
'Banana Plant Scene VII' oil on canvas, 150 x 230cm, 2023
'At Dusk (Banana Plant Scene V)' Oil on canvas, 130 x 175cm, 2021–22
'Ornaments (Interior Garden)' oil on canvas, 100 x 100cm, 2023
'Banana Plant Scene VI' Oil on canvas, 95 x 98cm, 2023
'Banana Plants In Brittany' oil on canvas on board, 35 x 30cm, 2023
'Banana Plant (Park Corner)' oil on canvas, 25 x 30cm, 2023
Installation Shot, 'Curated Nature' Solo show The Sustainable Studio, Cardiff, Wales, 2023
Installation Shot, 'Curated Nature' Solo show The Sustainable Studio, Cardiff, Wales, 2023
'Banana Plants (City Park)' oil on panel, 31 x 20cm, 2023
‘Succulents’ oil on panel, 20 x 31cm, 2023
'Palm (City Garden)' oil on panel, 31 x 20cm, 2023 (Private Collection, Newport, Wales, UK)
‘Westerpark Leaves’ oil on panel, 31 x 20cm, 2023 (Private Collection, Cardiff, Wales, UK)
‘Props VII (Glasshouse)’ oil on panel, 31 x 20cm, 2022 (Private Collection, Cardiff, Wales, UK)
'Props VI (Park)' oil on panel, 31 x 20cm, 2022
'Palm (Props V)' oil on panel, 21 x 19cm, 2022 (Private Collection, UK)
‘Props IV’ oil on panel, 46 x 35cm, 2022 (Private Collection, Wiltshire, UK)
Props In A Glasshouse Paradise oil on panel, 40 x 30cm, 2022
'Props II (Banana Leaves)' oil on canvas, 35 x 46cm, 2021-22 (Private Collection, Southend, UK)
'Props' Oil on panel, 21.5 x 32.5cm, 2021 (Private Collection, London)
'Banana Leaf Forms IX' oil on panel, 21 x 18cm, 2021 (Private Collection, Penarth, Wales, UK)
'Banana Leaf Forms X' oil on panel, 21 x 18cm, 2021 (Private Collection, Cardiff, Wales, UK)
'Flower and Leaf Forms' oil on panel, 31 x 20cm, 2022 (Private Collection, Porthcawl, Wales UK)
'Sunflower Head' Oil on canvas, 31.5 x 31cm, 2022 (Private Collection, Porthcawl, Wales, UK)
‘Monstera Leaves’ oil on canvas, 46 x 35cm, 2021 (Private Collection, Dorset, UK)
‘Palm Leaf Study’ oil on canvas, 46 x 35cm, 2022 (Private Collection, Dorset, UK)
Props
The series was exhibited as a solo exhibition, ‘Curated Nature’ at The Sustainable Studio in Cardiff, Wales in 2023, his second solo show with the Artist-led space.
Props is based on happenings and encounters after visiting different landscapes. They are paintings where humans have interacted with nature; where we’ve had input into the rhythms and cycles of nature, for better or for worse.
I’m fascinated by this innate human lust to better nature; to change it to fit our personal, idyllic vision of what nature should be or what it means to us.
My paintings are worked from a number of perspectives. Views across altered landscape, domestic gardens, and public spaces. Each place essentially has its own agenda. The designated purpose of each landscape has been created by humans, for humans. It feels that nature is rarely shaped by humans for the benefit of nature itself.
The term: Props rings true when I think of nature being choreographed by humans. The plants and trees are theatrical in the way that they are purposefully placed in our carefully curated gardens and managed woodlands.
Aidan Myers
2023