Another fine and unique pice for the collection of an astute Purchaser, this work was one of 31 collaborative paintings created over two years (1998-99) by Canadian artist Dougal Graham and Burmese/Canadian artist Sawan Yawnghwe, which commenced in Vancouver, then migrated to Toronto onto Tuscany, Italy. Their history working together is outlined in the feature article in the summer 2008 issue of Galleries West (2 pages shown at end of photos) and can be read here : http://www.galerieswest.ca/Features/Articles/6-107616.html and we quote from this source

"     Graham and Yawnghwe met in Capilano College's Studio Art Program in the early 1990's, and then attended the Emily Carr College of Art at the same time, graduating in 1993 and 1994. After finishing art school, Yawnghwe moved to Montreal, but when he came back to Vancouver for a few months in 1997 he shared space with Graham and they began to do collaborative drawings and paintings for fum.  The arrangement came to an end when Yawnghwe left for Tuscany to work with artist and entrepreneur Heinrich Nicolaus.

     During the same period, Graham met Fabrice Marcolini of Art Core Gallery in Toronto.  The association went so well that Graham invited Yawnghwe to join him in Toronto, producing eight or nine canvases in 1998.  Marcolini became their principal dealer.

     From there, both painters were invited to Tuscanny by Heinrich Nicolaus to create an ambitious art-centered project called Dormicelab, which would ultimately produce its own post-industrial-age manifesto, have its own logo and create and multi-media events.  Graham describes the work they created in Italy.  "Generally speaking, Sawan worked on the first layer, which often included paintings based on photographs I selected from fashion magazines and other sources.  I supplied much of the in-fill background of interiors and art-references, then Heinrich worked on the top layer.  Other touches were added by any or all until the piece was declared finished or ready to show."

     The included catalog features 31 pieces in the exhibit that travelled - ArtCore Gallery, Toronto, Canada, May - June 1999, Galerie Ernst Hilger, ART BASEL 99, June 1999 and Third Avenue Gallery, Vancouver, April 2000.

Artist Statement:

In this society technological advancement has given us new visual markers.  These new visuals touch a sensitivity that makes us different from the past.  We embrace the new identity with open arms because it is a clue to who we are as people.

Our paintings come from the pages of magazines, advertising, television and film.  This mode of expression is very familiar to us, we soak it in.  Then something so familiar becomes new, strange, and beautiful.

We are creating a kind of modern space in these images, which is the structure of our paintings, seeking harmony as in music.  The perfect sound.

For us, a painting is an exciting place to be.

Dougal Graham and Sawan Yawnghwe.

The painting measures 48 inches wide by 40 inches high, or 120 cm by 100 cm. Photo 2 is when it was recently exhibited at Definitely Superior Art Gallery in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada. Photo 1 is scanned from the catalog.