Our opening will be held Tuesday, January 9th from 5- 7. On view will be a selection of his most recent abstract paintings. Mulhern is well known for his use of aluminum paint on canvas. The metallic cast of the paint allows a shimmer to play across his layered monochromatic surfaces. This adroit technique produces a range of depth in his works.
Dimension is also is created by an overlay of linear motifs and semi-opaque washes.
Occasionally, Mulhern reveals the untouched plane of the canvas in contrast to his carefully wrought compositions. Here, Wilkin insightfully locates the dual forces that fuel Mulhern's creativity. First, there is Mulhern's dedication to the unedited creative impulse. On principle he works over his paintings in layers rather than changing or eliminating the original concept. Then there is the siren call of his medium, an ongoing attraction to the possibilities of the paint, it's shimmer, it's texture - all the qualities that make the act of painting so compelling.