Damian Moppett + Ron Moppett (Every Story Has Two Sides)

This unprecedented pairing explores the commonalities and intersections of two major artistic practices. Ron Moppett has been one of Canada's most prolific artists for 50 years and is renowned not only for his vibrant, large-scale paintings, but for his work as a teacher and curator. Damian Moppet has built an international career working in all forms of media, including photography, sculpture, painting, video, and drawing. They are also father and son. This exhibition catalogue looks at practices separated by generation and medium yet conjoined by an ongoing dialogue with the history of art. In their separate ways, both Ron Moppett and Damian Moppett investigate how artists throughout history have tried to resolve problems, such as those related to representation and of abstraction. Drawing inspiration from a variety of historical and cultural styles, Ron Moppett offers a diverse view of pop culture and a glimpse into the dailiness of life. A brilliant colorist, he distills shapes with oil and acrylic paint, creating complex picture puzzles that hold multiple layers of meaning. Damian Moppett employs a variety of media to explore art-historical movements. His self-reflexive engagement with his references highlights similarities that exist between seemingly divergent events and ideas. For him, art history is itself a rich medium in which to work. Featured side by side, their works embody an intriguing dialogue about the artist as both creative subject and site.