NYCoo Gallery in June features “Narsilion,” an exhibition of science fiction/fantasy illustrations. The artist is Mael, a pseudonym as the real name may greatly restrict the impression one may receive from the work. The name comes from the first portion of the English word ‘maelstrom’ meaning a great whirlwind and turbulence.

“Narsilion, poem of the sun and wind” gets its inspiration from director, Peter Jackson’s movie trilogy Lord of the Ringsbased on J. R. R. Tolkien’s Middle Earth in the books of the same name which can be considered the primary expression and Mael’s poetic illustration the secondary representation. The works in this exhibition are the figures that are drawn by the artist as an epic narrative. There are many Tolkien fans in the world according to The Tolkien Society website, and Mael states that these works are a homage to Tolkein. These 20 X 15 inch watercolors using India ink reveals the artist’s descriptive depiction skill. These images are inspired from the world created by Peter Jackson and not influenced by the animated version based on the third book of the trilogy, The Return of the King, which was made years before the movie trilogy.

J. R. R. Tolkien (1892 − 1973), an Englishman, was a scholar at Oxford University of Old and Middle English, the archaic form of English before Shakespeare’s time. Tolkien lost his brother in the First World War, and continued to write after sending his son off to the battlefields in France in the Second World War. He has in his mind the origin and the survival of a nation, the time-space of the prehistoric era, migration of the Anglo Saxons, the native Celtics, the Scandinavians, the Vikings, and the destruction of one civilization by another. The Lord of the Ringstrilogy is an unfolding romantic saga about the good and evil of Christian thought, and the triumph of the good through human compassion, friendship, loyalty, love, courage, dignity, and honesty.

How can the endless subjects provided by Tolkien’s world not fascinate a young artist? In addition, whether it is the influence of the media, the younger generation today seem less inclined to respond to the provocations of abstract art but rather seems more drawn to narrative expression that appeals to perceivable consciousness.

Finally, in quoting Mael’s own words, “Those who are captivated by the figures and narrative, would see something there, and further, experience it transcends a picture, becoming a thing that provides provisions for the heart and remain in the back of the mind. To live by embracing a story within one’s heart, that is not ‘to live immersed in fantasy’ but ‘to live by having a form of vitality called imagination, and freedom in one’s heart.’”

From this frame of mind, Mael is continuing to work and showing her most recent results in this solo exhibition.
I recommend for you to come to the opening, to see the works, and meet the artist to make your inquiries.

Gallery writer: Hitoshi Nakazato
Translation : Sumiko Takeda