Paul Ryan: Falmouth Unframed

In the few years since moving to Falmouth, Paul has been taken with how the landscape and the water generate the main activity of the town, providing imagery of an industrial nature as well as pleasure craft. 

Turning left from his studio takes you to the Penryn River’s estuary; turn right and you come to the bay and the open sea. The work in Falmouth Unframed is a response to this changing waterscape: under sail, with the surface of the water at arm’s length, you feel small, framed between air and water. 

Paul’s search for physical material involves explorations of the Penryn River and creeks where vessels end their days, gradually break up, and offer themselves for reinvention. He wants the viewer to share the immediacy of the ‘finding-the-object’ moment. He then allows the object to hold its own, and then enhances it with colours, marks, and print. The panels have words on them, which usually become the title of the piece. These words direct the viewer, but also serve the purpose of returning the viewer to the two-dimensionality of the panel, a wall-based object. The gallery is the frame. 

Paul has been involved in art and design education all his life alongside maintaining a studio and personal practice. He works as an International Standards Verifier, visiting colleges (when allowed to travel) to examine their Higher National programmes.

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Falmouth Unframed: 

Private View: Monday 9th August, 5pm-7pm. All welcome! 

Exhibition open: Tuesday 10th August to Saturday 14th August, open 10am–5pm, Tuesday to Saturday. 

The Poly continues to recommend wearing a face covering (unless you are exempt), thinking social distance, and sanitising your hands on arrival. 

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