There’s an odd relationship between the mixed media work of Rudolf Bikkers and Andrew Rucklidge’s paintings, both currently on view in Toronto at Craig Scott Gallery and Christopher Cutts Gallery, respectively.

Andrew Rucklidge, Falls, coloured, 2006. Image: cuttsgallery.com

Both artists make strikingly original works that refer back to art historical precedents while they also move forward into uncharted territory.

In Rucklidge’s case, we think of Katsushika Hokusai’s prints and even the cave paintings of Gustave Courbet. Bikkers’ work, on the other hand, is reminiscent of Giorgio de Chirico and even Mark Kostabi’s 80’s painting.

Rudolf Bikkers, Morphogenetic Field VII, 2007. Image: craigscottgallery.com

Bikkers, who teaches at OCAD, is one of the few remaining all-round master printmakers in Canada. He is Dutch, and studied both art and music before moving to Canada in 1966. His art work tend to express his love of music, but of these recent works, the gallery says:

“The preoccupation in earlier work tended to be with the inner life of the microscopic organism, including morphogenesis (intra-organism biological processes that generate tissue shape and biological form in plant and animal embryos)…

Bikkers’ new series of work engages the premise that “morphogenetic fields” may explain both how knowledge can be transmitted between organisms and why behaviour based on that knowledge can be quite suddenly widely emulated within a species…

At their most far-reaching, hypotheses of “morphic resonance” postulate not only spiritual interconnections between beings but also the cumulative development of a collective consciousness as morphogenetic fields interact…”

Or, maybe they’re just…really INTRIGUING.

Rudolf Bikkers, Morphogenetic Fields II, 2007. Image: craigscottgallery.com

With every show, Andrew Rucklidge’s painting seems to improve. It’s becoming more sophisticated, less gimmicky and more real. VoCA loves these new works!

Andrew Rucklidge, 2 or 3 days spent in particle capture, 2008. Image: cuttsgallery.com

Katsushika Hokusai, The Great Wave Off Kanagawa, c. 1780-1849.
Image: liquidknowledge.info

For more information on Andrew Rucklidge’s show at Christopher Cutts Gallery, please click HERE.

For the artist’s website, please click HERE.

For more info on Rudolf Bikker’s work, please visit the Craig Scott Gallery website, right HERE.