Philippe Raphanel draws on a variety of influences to create atmospheric compositions that resist a single interpretation. Since immigrating to Canada from France in 1981, Raphanel has been profoundly affected by the dense wilderness of British Columbia as well as the work of historical Canadian painters such as Emily Carr. While landscape and the natural world are at the core of his practice, Raphanel's paintings present a visual experience that suggests a set of open questions about how natures and its energy reveal themselves. His visual vocabulary includes elements familiar to the forest - branches, nests, leaves - while maintaining a looseness in their application that allows for new forms and associations to emerge.
Philippe Raphanel New PaintingsJanuary 13th - February 10th, 2024
Installation View
Philippe Raphanel New PaintingsJanuary 13th - February 10th, 2024
Installation View
Philippe Raphanel New PaintingsJanuary 13th - February 10th, 2024
Installation View
Philippe Raphanel New PaintingsJanuary 13th - February 10th, 2024
Installation View
Philippe Raphanel New PaintingsJanuary 13th - February 10th, 2024
Installation View
Philippe Raphanel New PaintingsJanuary 13th - February 10th, 2024
Installation View
Philippe Raphanel New PaintingsJanuary 13th - February 10th, 2024
Installation View
Philippe Raphanel New PaintingsJanuary 13th - February 10th, 2024
Philippe Raphanel
Grove
2021-2022
Acrylic on canvas
54" x 70"
Philippe Raphanel
Changes 1
2022
Acrylic on canvas
40" x 50"
Philippe Raphanel
Coastal Tide 1
2023
Acrylic on canvas
38" x 54"
Philippe Raphanel
September Beach
2023
Acrylic on canvas
31" x 62"
Featured Artists
Philippe Raphanel
Philippe Raphanel
For over 30 years, Philippe Raphanel’s painting practice has been marked by an awareness and sensitivity to the natural landscape. Most recently, he approaches the idea of landscape from an atmospheric perspective, using line and colour to evoke imagery related to oceanic and celestial maps. Iridescent pigments coupled with hundreds of layers of alternatingly opaque and translucent colours shift with the viewer’s position and in response to light. The process Raphanel uses to create his paintings is extremely labour-intensive, taking years to complete individual pieces.