Surreality on canvas – Fabian Jean

Colourful, real and intriguing, the paintings of Fabian Jean are like secret moments caught in time.

After 15 years of painting full time, Jean can say he has gone through several motifs as an artist. His recognizable styles have led to a series of interiors, dogs, and portraits. His upcoming exhibition at the Galerie de Bellefeuille on Greene Ave. features a strangely more dual concept.

When the Canadian economy was in a recession seven years ago, Jean, who has a masters in fine arts from Concordia University, began to contemplate how things were falling apart, the “end of the party.”

That concept slowly began to develop into cakes.

“I thought to myself that, if there was a last cake on Earth, what would it look like?”

Veering from the devastating, hopeful accents like butterflies and birds symbolize a new beginning.

The cake series is, like many of Jean’s works, beautifully unsettling. The realistic style touched by fantasy encapsulates a generation that is fascinated by the banal and can still find eccentricities in the ordinary.

Using unorthodox tools like knives, fingers, chalk and egg emulsion, Jean has experimented with the spectrum possibilities before landing on classic oil and canvas. “There was a long exploration of methods and material before coming to where I am now, with my own technique and style,” said Jean.

The layers and texture of his work are part of his signature, creating depth without laying it on too thick.

The textures of his paintings are inspired by the work of the late Canadian painter, Tom Hopkins, a Concordia fine arts professor who has also been featured at Bellefeuille.

As for the future, Jean has considered a more historical nod. “Perhaps I’ll reference more art history, like the last Ming vase,” he laughed.

The painter has noticed that the attendees are often artists themselves, suggesting how the gallery fosters the artistic community.

This will be Jean’s fourth show at the Galerie de Bellefeuille, which has been open since 1980. In that time the gallery has evolved significantly, pushing for more contemporary Canadian work and international exposure for artists through collaborations in places like Miami, Toronto, Palm Beach and New York.

Fabian Jean’s exhibit will be at the Gallerie de Bellefeuille, 1367 Greene Ave., from Nov. 21 to Dec. 1. For more information visit dbellefeuille.com