Stephen Way

Happy Wanderings

1-28 February 2019

Stephen Way's abstract works are mostly monochromatic and are evocative of the seven cycles of Yang style Tai Chi. The featured line work creates rhythm and movement while the hands and feet are representative of the postures performed. Stephen's exhibition, Happy Wanderings (2019) aims to highlight the benefits of the martial art as it can improve one's flexibility, reduce stress and strengthen muscles.

- Contemporary Art Awards

Happy Wanderings (2019) is a series of ten works that attempt to visually depict the script, circular movement and some of the 128 postures, in the seven cycles of Yang style Tai Chi. This style is soft, slow, continuous, centripetal in effect, meditative and yet very powerful. I have been doing this exercise for 40 years. In what turned out to be a rather difficult self- assignment, I was surprised to discover the surreal and abstract quality displayed. Possibly this is due to drawing directly with permanent ink marker pen onto the canvas, leaving no room for error.

- Stephen Way