What's new
New Show
27th - 30th May 2007:
Frission Exhibition - a show in Canterbury with a number of other local artists.
2 Palace Street.
Yasmin
A moment for Yasmin who flew from this world on the 19th April 2005 at 04.30hrs. A gentle and wonderful person who will be greatly missed. I'm glad I knew you!
More reviews of the soundtrack to 'On some road' (April 2005)
Remco Helbers wrote and produced the music for this exhibition. The music greatly ehhanced the mood of the evening for me and I have used it since for other events. The CD has was released commercially in November 2002 and sounds great. I thoroughly recommend it!
Here is the link if you are interested in obtaining a copy:
Remco Helbers 'On Some Road'
Edition Blue / FARFIELD Records
1. Urban Nightscape II
2. A Kinder Blue IV
3. A Kinder Blue II
4. Floating in Sequence II
5. Cathedral II
6. Obsession I
7. Dragon III
The music was inspired by paintings of Kent -based abstract painter John Kimber. Remco met John on a Guitar Craft Course led by Robert Fripp in 1998. When John organised his first exhibition at Lauderdale House in London this music was used on the opening night.
The seven paintings that inspired the compositions are printed in the CD-booklet. The liner notes on the sleeve were written by another Guitar Craft-participant Sid Smith. Sid is the author of the King Crimson-biography "In the Court of King Crimson".
The soundscapes were recorded with use of a Chapman Grand Stick, a 12-string instrument on which notes are tapped, rather than plucked. With the aid of a digital looping device seven improvisations were recorded to harddisk. Fragments were taken from these recordings and used as "buildingblocks"in a sampler, where they were further reworked and enhanced.
Reviews of 'On Some Road':
Sonic Curiosity review by Matt Howarth
(Feb. 2003) :
This CD from 2002 is the debut release by Dutch musician Remco Helbers, offering
49 minutes of relaxing ambience based on the abstract paintings of British artist
John Kimber. The two met while they were studying with legendary guitarist Robert
Fripp.
Helbers' instrument of choice is the Chapman Stick. All sounds are transformed into StickLoops by his gentle touch. Some tracks feature a near-subliminal presence of bells and bowls, supplying an elusive percussive undercurrent for the ambient soundscapes.
This music flows like an imperturbable river. Tenuous fields of placid sonic textures impersonate an atmospheric calm. There is little variance among the minimal tonalities as the harmonic paths traverse their even-tempered course. Delicate waves of ethereal substance establish an airy sentiment that is serious but warm, generating an intriguing environment of unobtrusive resonance.
Although produced by layerings of ephemeral loops, this music possesses scarce cyclic demeanor, manifesting as seemingly infinite sheets of soothing textures. These emanations breathe and sigh, rippling with almost imperceptible hills and valleys. The constant quality of the melodies is deceptive, so gradual and slight are the variations.
copyright 2003 Matt Howarth
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E-mix CD review by Mark Jenkins (Jan. 2003)
"On Some Road" comprises "ambient soundscapes" composed to accompany an exhibition of abstract paintings by John Kimber. The textures sound electronic, but the sound source is acoustic, a Chapman Stick looped, processed and echoed rather in the style of Robert Fripp. Add some bells, singing bowls and huge sampled drones, and the finished textures vary from dark to gentle and melancholy - there's none of the percussive nature of the Stick here, and the music falls somewhere between the styles of Brian Eno and the lighter side of Vidna Obmana.
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EER-Music review by Hannah M.G. Shapero (Dec. 2002)
Remco Helbers, from the Netherlands, uses an infinite-sustain string synthesizer, loops, and some Oriental bells to create a meditative album of drones. The music is inspired by the abstract paintings of British artist John Kimber, and images of the artworks are included in the full CD package. The music is as abstract as the art: there is no rhythm, just a gentle, floating mood, with little or no loud-soft changes. Each track hovers around a cluster of notes in a chord, and the basic harmony doesn’t change during the duration of that track, though some notes may fade in and out. Some of these harmonies are major and thus feel soothing; others are minor and sound plaintive. A couple of tracks explore a more dissonant collection of notes, which gives them an alien, spooky sound. But none of these pieces is harsh; Helbers maintains a steady, contemplative quality . On Some Road with its long sustained stretches and unbroken surface, is a good soundtrack for inner exploration, or for dreams touched with melancholy.
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Ambientrance review by David J. Opdyke (Dec. 2002)
When Remco Helbers travels On Some Road , there are no annoying highway sounds... only luxuriantly-spread tapestries of tonal Chapman Stick-powered gauze. Serene!
Angelic choirs seem to emanate from the gleamingly-bright-though-vaporous core of Urban Nightscape II which opens this collection of beatless ambience. Billowing tones spaciously swell upon the sheens of A Kinder Blue IV, while the drifting streams of A Kinder Blue II are underscored with slow, muted metallic clangs.
Guitar-like strands cross a cushiony skyscape in somberly majestic Floating In Sequence II (3:36). Cathedral I (9:06) emits continually ebbing/flowing layers of symphonic-like currents (which occasionally rise to rather glaring forcefulness). Deeply churning Dragon III descends upon the final minutes of the disc, with powerful lows undulating through its expansive territories.
When traveling On Some Road with Remco Helbers, you'll be ear-witness to indefinable auroras of peaceful sonic ooze, inspired by the paintings of John Kimber; mini-prints of his colorful/textural abstractions are shown in the liner notes. The enhanced sound of the Chapman Stick ("a 12-string instrument on which notes are tapped rather than plucked") creates super smooth highways for your imagination. B+
Creativity and obsessions!
(April 2005)
Recently a couple of people have commented on Obsession II. One wanted to enquire
about using it as a CD cover. The other person wrote:
"My name is Theresa Williams,
and I live in Bradner, Ohio USA. I teach in the English Department at Bowling
Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio. I'm an author; I have published
several short stories and a novel called The Secret of Hurricanes.
I keep a writing blog called Theresa Williams-Author.
http://journals.aol.com/theresarrt7/TheresaWilliams-author
Recently, I was looking for a painting or image to illustrate my interpretation
of the Pablo Neruda poetry collection, Twenty Love Poems. I typed "Obsession"
into the search and clicked on "images" and your painting showed up.
I hope you don't mind, but I pasted the image of your painting into my blog
(I gave you credit, of course). I just think it is the most beautiful painting!
I went to your site and read your bio and am very intrigued by why you paint.
I think I write for the same reasons that you paint. Please visit my blog so
that you can see your painting there--if for some reason you don't want me to
display the image, please tell me and I will remove it. But I'd like to keep
it there as a way of introducing others to you and your work."
Theresa's novel, "The Secret of Hurricanes" has received excellent reviews and is available on Amazon. She is interested in the creative process and her site is well worth a visit.
It's always interesting to me how
certain things or ideas have a moment in time where people are drawn to them.
Before this flurry of interest in this painting there was nothing .........and
probably never will be again! It currently sits in our lounge.
Soundtrack to 'On some road' released (November 2002)
Remco Helbers wrote and produced the music for this exhibition. The music greatly ehhanced the mood of the evening for me and I have used it since for other events. The CD has just been released commercially and sounds great. Here are some links if you are interested in obtaining a copy:
Review of the album Music Maker (Okt. 2002) : "Though looping is a much used technique these days, pioneers like Robert Fripp and Brian Eno already discovered it's possiblities about 25 years ago. And what to think of David Bowie's 1977 album Heroes? Remco Helbers, an ex-bassist hailing from Rotterdam, produced a loopalbum using various non-conventional instruments, the Chapman Stick (tapguitar) and Tibetan Bowls. The result: a soothing album with the title On Some Road - ambient soundscapes, inspired by paintings from John Kimber. Helbers met him during a course led by Fripp. Sid Smith, biographer of King Crimson, wrote the liner notes for the booklet. A remarkable album that banishes the stressing dynamics of everyday life."
Review of the album by Paul Rijkens(Okt. 2002) : "On Some Road is an album of very impressive and intense ambient soundscapes. The music is sometimes dark and sometimes spacey but overall intriguing, warm, captivating, uplifting, relaxing and very beautiful. The dreamy and moody atmosphere of Remco’s music very well reflects the beauty of John Kimber’s paintings."
New Exhibition: Equinox in April 2002 - extended another week to 18th May
Max and I are having a joint show. It will be held 28th April to 18th May 2002 at the Greyhound Gallery, 1b East Cross, Tenterden, Kent.
From the publicity blurb:
Equinox, n. time when sun crosses equator and day and night are equal.
Maxine and John have been painting separately
for a number of years. Recently they have combined their interests and
painted a body of work in tandem. Their own personal equinox; where their
work has been combined to produce a single body of equal light and shade;
abstract and figurative.
Comments from the Private View
Sid Smith: "I thought this was a much stronger exhibition than the first one last year. The paintings have a greater confidence about them and I think Kimber has begun to find his own stylistic voice. No mean thing if you can do it. "
Gary Pass: "I didn't think it
would be enough to
write in your book: "Nice." or
"Blue Orange. Good colours."
Joking apart, I enjoyed making time
to gaze at your paintings. With many I
find a pleasure in drifting from the
surface of colour and shape into deeper
subtleties of texture, tone and vibrancy.
I honestly feel it would be a
delight to have a number of your works
hanging; for me to drift into their
rich depths."
Mark Ray: "Sandra and I
really enjoyed your exhibition last night, and really liked
some of your work. Thank you. We were
very tempted to buy one of your
smaller pieces, unfortunately the one
that was sold very quickly! If you
have the inspiration to do some similar
stuff, we would be certainly
interested. I think you can be
very proud of what you have produced! Looking forward to
seeing some more."
Orange Blue Preview
Please see gallery 11 for a preview of
the forthcoming Blue orange
show.
Next show - Blue orange - Lauderdale House: 29th January - 10th February 2002
I'm currently planning the next show. I do have a theme as hinted at in the title! More as it develops.
Location:
The Lower Gallery at Lauderdale House
(ring the gallery before you go on 020 8348 8716 for opening times)
Waterlow Park
Highgate Hill
London
N6 5HG
Directions:
The nearest tube is Archway and then either
a 10 minute walk up Highgate Hill or take the 143, 210 or 271 and get off
at the bus stop opposite the Old Crown public house. Lauderdale House
is on your left as you go up Highgate Hill.
"I particularly like Floating in Sequence and the new stuff - I like the colour of Optical Mix 1 and the depth of OM2. Overall I think A Kinder Blue 7 is my favourite - something about the colour (as it comes across on my monitor anyway!) and a sense of 'hanging plants' somehow.
I've had a similar urge to explore my
'artistic' self over the past year but less courage to do something about
it (well done). I ordered a home study course on art and design from
OCA but found it too detailed and prescriptive, so I'm gobsmacked by the
idea of just buying the materials and starting. Now that gives me
2 things to consider - getting some of my own and wondering what's stopped
me doing it .....?????"
Yasmin Khan, a good friend of mine, sent me some thoughts. I met Yasmin on a Masters Course in 1998/99. She was living in South Africa with her husband and was commuting to Guildford once a month to attend the course! Commitment or what? Since then she has returned to South Africa:
"Thank you for the viewing of your pictures, right her in my own home, that was cool.
They are powerful, and I guess the originals
show the vibrancy of colour that bit more. You know the yellow canvass
is interesting, it reminds me of some of the spectacular sun sets we get
here, that I view from our lounge window. I tried to turn my head upset
down (cos it was easier than turning the computer upside down!) to see
if it looked any different from another angle. I couldn't quite make the
turn, but I suspect it would still work for me that way round as well.
You know the colours here are unreal sometimes, it is hard to believe the
sky can create so many colours, blends and
pictures which are different every
time.
The last canvas reminded me of space
- outer space, and I am intrigued as to how it and they emerged. I like
the knowing you speak of when you work/paint. You know people say, or the
psychologists say we see ourselves
in pictures! Well, the first two blue
pictures definitely looked to me like faces, someone emerging, trying to
come out. Then I wondered whether this reflected you and the creativity
you speak about making its debut once again in this world, reclaimed at
last, maybe it was a struggle because the birthing process' seems to me
present in much of your work. well that is how I see it and maybe it is
because I have given birth, also been given a re-birth so to speak in looking
at life afresh etc etc."
I have a slot on a new artist collective
at
http://www.studioflokati.de/johnkimber
Also Martin Hoogeboom from Holland dropped
me an e-mail, "Love the urban nightscapes. Reminds me of Japanese paintings.
They give consolation." Martin has a very impressive web site
at
http://home.wxs.nl/~mhoogebo/home.html
"I love your paintings but I have to
say that "Pastoral" did it for me (to
use one of your expressions).
I think the combination of colours and the
diagonal image on the canvas gives
it a softness which really, really
appeals to me. I love the soft
greens and creams and the overall impression
I get is one of tranquility and peace.
Listen to me!! "
Becky put me in touch with another old friend of mine, Elaine. I haven't seen or spoken to Elaine for about 20 odd years!!! It's amazing how technology connects us!
"Beccy sent me your info, so Laurence and I have just spent a while browsing your web site. We haven't been thro' everything yet but thought we'd let you know that we love 'beginnings' and the 'active series'. We have a house in Tenerife and can definitely see the volcanic influence, in fact, where can we buy the posters! Mind you, Laurence did say that he thought 'beginnings' was a picture of the star rising over Bethlehem....obviously still under the influence of all the red wine in the Christmas gravy!"
I liked the images Elaine and Lawrence see in these paintings. I'll have to look at 'Beginnings' again.
Another unexpected e-mail came from Ada. Ada is the girlfriend of Remco whom I met on a Guitar Craft course in Germany a couple of years ago. Remco and Ada came to visit me in London when much alcohol and curry was consumed (er I think). Anyway up Ada wrote the following:
"The first time I saw your paintings
was on e-mail Remco received from Sid
Smith. I really loved them. This afternoon
Remco called me and told me we
received a christmasgreeting with one
of your paintings printed.
So I went looking on the internet for
your webpage and I really enjoyed your
works. I immediately fell in love with
"Blue II". This one is not in your
gallery's, I saw this one in the "what's
new" page. Man....this "blue"
brings up so much feelings and emotions.
It's a kind of dream.
The other paintings I really like are
(some more dreamy ones): "A Kinder
Blue VI+VII" and "Mirage I+II"."
I'm pleased the Blues connected.
They really stir something in me (I guess that's why I paint them!!).
It is gratifying when I receive feedback like this. It means
a lot to know that the paintings have a resonance for people (and visa
versa). It's also good to know that different paintings appeal to
different people.
With the help of the designer friend
of mine (hello Sheila!) I put some Christmas Cards (well anytime cards
really) together. I chose Nocturne, Cathedral I, Dragon III and A
Kinder Blue II.
For me whilst the results weren't always a hundred percent successful, I did learn a lot from the process! I have a much better idea for the next round in terms of design, which pictures to choose and what questions to ask the printers.
It feels good to send cards to people that contain a little piece of yourself!
Feedback from Geordie blokey Sid 'mine's a big one' Smith
"The cards arrived today and bloody
fantastic they look to. Excellent size I thought - not too intrusive
or self-important. I think Cathedral looks stunning. Oddly
it reminds me of your living room. Nocturne & Dragon III suffer a little
from harsh lighting but hey I'm being picky - these look great. Kinder
Blue works very well in this format - in fact I think I prefer it to the
original. Only criticism is that you should have indicated the size
of the original work on the back as is I believe the industry practice.
"
Hello to Tim! I've known Tim
for a while and really only discovered we shared an interest in painting
when we chatted at a party over the weekend. Tim had a look at the
site and commented, "Like the site, and very good to talk on Sat. It's
good to just sit and browse your work....I like the sequences in particular.
The lilac stuff works for me.
Also fun to read your comments. Especially
"I find the act of painting takes
me somewhere else. Time seems
to pass and I'm in a different mental place."
Was it Picasso who said: Painters live
longer than others because when they
enter the studio they leave their bodies
outside the door....!"
I think that's a great image! I think my neighbours might complain though!
I've also had e-mails from a number of people:
Hello to John Kimber of Texas! It was a very pleasant surprise to get you e-mail! John wrote, "While surfing the 'net today I found your webpage and wished to extend greetings to you from the United States. Though hardly an art expert, I enjoy the works of many artists and their impressions of life. Your painting are interesting in that they give the observer an opportunity to decide what the paintings represent. I found them quite interesting."
I was pleased to hear from Leilani from
Pennsylvania. (I met Leilani and her husband Jim in Texas about
five years ago. We spent Christmas Day playing guitars, eating and
drinking.) - "Two comments right off: 1. I absolutely LOVE
Blue I; 2. also love Dragon V (what's wrong with it, or is it just
the resolution on my screen that makes it look so good. . . ?) Actually
prefer Floating in Sequence I & II to the others as III and on kind
of look like Dragons in Lilac to me. "
My new interest is.......Blue!
"A kinder blue" ( sorry Miles).
A Kinder Blue
Below are three ideas I've been exploring.
I'm very excited by these combinations of colours and the effect their
energy has on my rooms. I will do more around these over the coming
weeks as this feels like a very fruitful direction to go in.
The not quite right moment
Below are a couple of paintings from an aborted set. The original set of four seemed to point in a mystical/religious direction but overall failed to convince me as a collection of paintings. My mate, Sid Smith, saw the cathedral in this one - a shaft of light with a figure emerging from the bottom. I built on, and emphasised, some of these features in Cathedral II.
