The paintings are manifestations of visceral and vigorous efforts. Each work is born of a combined physical and psychical force that has been refined through the free spirited friendship and teammateship.
It was at a spiritual retreat in Waterford, Ireland, in the summer of 2009 that Omar Alexander and Rodrigo Luna first met and immediately formed a connection. In many ways their friendship was an unlikely one on paper, at least, coming from distinctly different backgrounds. But it was a profound shared outlook that pulled them together, one that would even surpass initial language barriers and geography, and would eventually draw them together to form an artistic bond.
That collaboration began during the first UK lockdown of 2020. Omar and Rodrigo had always remained friends bound by their shared interest in spirituality and their mutual passion for creativity, but it was during that strange isolating time that the pair decided to start working with one another.
It was a spur of the moment and intrinsic reaction to what was going on in the world. One minute they were discussing ideas, the next they were making work. Having formed a 'bubble' at Omar's London home they became a power house of creativity producing work after work using whatever materials they had to hand due to the restrictive nature of the time they were working in.
Salvaged canvases were stripped back, acrylic paint mixed with green tea leaves and coffee grinds, often Brillo pads would take the place of a traditional brush to move colour around. Wine also had its place in the process, as did chlorophyll; canvases smoked and doused in streaks of lighter fuel. Flecks of metals, copper and gold were used to bring light and strength to each work. There were no rules.
But whilst their techniques might have been unorthodox at times what they have achieved is a body of work that explores the intellect, filled with texture, colour, light and a narrative, which appeals to our inner souls.
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Omar Fayed
Omar Alexander has always had an affinity with the natural world. Born in 1987 in London he spent much of his childhood in the wilds of the Scottish Highlands, and the forests of Finland. So moved was he by the beauty of these landscapes that they would play a huge role in his work later in life, as an environmentalist, businessman and philanthropist - but, foremost, as an artist. The works in this exhibition are a celebration of that passion and a hymn to the transcendental nature of the spirit.
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Rodrigo Luna
Rodrigo Zapata Luna was born in Chile, and when he isn't in London he is based in what is known as Brazil's Savannah - Alto Paraiso, said to be one most beautiful and spiritual locations on the planet. From the earliest age he was always 'creating things', making art from the tiniest of objects and painting large scale artworks. OR is his first exhibition.