Worlds Apart

A brisk walk past the window of new art gallery, Meller Merceux, on Oxford’s High Street, and you’re sure to stumble after spotting the inimitable styles of Warhol or Picasso dangling in the window.

Warhol and Picasso on the High Street! Pretty exciting stuff! It seems that there’s some seriously hot property within the walls of this new art gallery. Interestingly, though, it’s not in the form that you might initially imagine.

Upon further inspection, the works by these, two of the most celebrated artists in the world, are sadly only photocopied images of the original works (and not particularly good quality reproductions at that).

It’s obvious really; the originals are too valuable to be kept on site, so special ‘high security’ meetings have to be set up in order to view these particular pieces.

Meller Merceux Gallery, Oxford is one of two Meller Merceux galleries (the other’s in Witney) set up by Aidan Meller. After studying History of Art, Meller cut his teeth as an art dealer at Sotherby’s auction house, and later set up on his own.

Boasting several of the biggest names in the business, it’s clear that Meller knows how to capture the viewer’s attention, but it seems that he also knows how to spot and promote little-known talent too.

Take Ben Clarke for example. One work in the window, and three nestled away at the back of the gallery, and to my mind, these three are the most interesting works in the show. Try not to be deterred by Louis Parsons’ work that fills the greater part of this small gallery until August 27.

Parsons’ exhibition is entitled Freedom, and it certainly makes me want to break away and seek refuge. Fortunately, that refuge is found in Clarke’s oeuvre – a clever ploy employed by Meller to promote Clarke perhaps? Or am I seriously missing something with Parsons’ expressive paintings? Regardless, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and as my gran used to say: “Takes all sorts.”

Clarke’s bright canvases all show individual studies from an aerial perspective, and result in carefully selected and composed portraits popped on to colourful picture planes.

At first these works seem slightly whimsical, but the minutely observed detail draws the viewer in.

Suddenly a character has grabbed you by the hand, and you’re off, on a series of imaginary journeys. Late for coffee, trying to get through on the mobile, meeting a friend for a shopping trip, just taking a quiet walk and trying to work it all out.

Whatever the imposed scenario, you’re in it. Clarke ignites the imagination, but remains sufficiently secretive for one to wander into new worlds through the vehicle that is the window on his artwork.

He comments: “My painting aims to engage the viewer to consider the self and its connection with existence.”

Marching, wandering, trundling, skipping under a bright sunshine that illuminates figures that dance on platforms void of any recognisable context or scale, in time or space, but through their own worlds, and our imagination.

Clarke continues: “Each individual exists in their own complex arena, captured in one moment in time.”

This is interesting stuff, much more interesting than some pixelated print of a painting we’ll never see. Ben Clarke at Meller Merceux is hot property!

* Ben Clarke at Meller Merceux, 105 High Street, Oxford, 01865 727996, until August 27.

10am-6pm Mon-Sat; 11am-5pm Sun.

mellermerceux.com benclarkeart.co.uk