Orenau

Iwan Lewis (1980 - )

Painting - Oil on canvas

2018

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  • About the work
    Location
    Country: UK
    City: London
    Place: Downing Street
    Iwan Lewis works primarily in painting, drawing on his experience of moving to the island of Ynys Môn, in North Wales, after living in London for 10 years. In this retreat to rural living, he finds himself questioning the role of the artist, socio-political structures and the capacity of language to alter perceptions, the latter reflected in the precision of his works’ titles. 
    Lewis says, ‘Orenau (oranges in English) points to a fair land with a less wet climate, a place of abundance. This place becomes visible at times like a mirage, when the gloom dissipates and the light reveals Ynys Môn’s ancient past. Standing stones and Roman walls come into focus, but with these rays of light legions of tourists tear up the tranquillity.’ The paint itself is often waxy, rigid, unwilling to bend to the artist’s hand: ‘Much like the island itself, my paintings aren’t passive, they are to be argued with,’ says Lewis.
  • About the artist
    Iwan Lewis was born in Bangor, North Wales, in 1980, and raised in the small Welsh-speaking village of Llanllyfni. Since graduating with an MA Painting from the Royal College of Art, he has worked as an artist and lecturer. Lewis moved to Caergybi in 2016, where he now lives and works. He was awarded First Prize in Painting, Welsh Artist of the Year, in 2012, and nominated for The Paul Hamlyn Award for Visual Artists in 2017. Solo exhibitions include Annwn (2020) at Sid Motion Gallery, London, and Gallery 6, MOSTYN, Llandudno (2016). Lewis is co-founder of the artist-led projects, Studio Cybi, with Rebecca Gould, in 2016. Studio Cybi were awarded The Wales Venice 10 Artes Mundi Commission in 2023.
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  • Details
    Artist
    Iwan Lewis (1980 - )
    Title
    Orenau
    Date
    2018
    Medium
    Painting - Oil on canvas
    Dimensions
    height: 102 cm; width: 102 cm
    Acquisition
    Purchased from the artist, January 2023, through the Art XUK project 2022-23
    Provenance
    Purchased from the artist, January 2023, through the Art XUK project 2022-23
    GAC number
    19127