Remembered landscapes

Solo exhibition of a series of 22 oil paintings on canvas and paper, with 4 supporting drawings in ink on paper, based on ideas developed from a research trip to the north-east border region of Poland in 2002, funded by a Research Award of £2000 from the Royal Scottish Academy. The purpose of the trip was to gather visual information and to explore the forest regions described in Simon Schama’s book 'Landscape and Memory'. On return Braham began to make paintings that sought to synthesize his experience of the landscape as both physically present and as a locus for holding fugitive apprehensions of history. Key works included 'Morning, Augustow' (oil on canvas, 86 x 107cm) depicting the approach to the forest from across open fields, under a pale sky. The atmosphere is similar to the sad but beautiful landscape imagery of a Tarkovski film. 'Silent Landscape' (oil on canvas, 107 x 152cm) is an atmospheric portrayal of the landscape close to the site of Auschwitz, the small figure in the distance reminiscent of the guards in Paul Celan’s poem 'Death Fugue'. Sizes ranged from 107 x 152 cm to 12 x 18 cm, and media included oils on canvas, oils on paper, inks on paper, and c-type photographs. Promoted with the publication of a gatefold card 20 x 20 cm with 9 colour reproductions, and a short introduction to the themes explored in the work.