Ms. Sarah Gilfillan introduces us to an extension of surreal self-reliance with her abstract forms with her ‘Echoes’ opening at Sarah Brook Gallery. Her ideas are emblematic of her time in the desert meditation on the “rude”-as Thomas Carlyle would describe the desert – or crude simplicity in form. The simple and base tones, in other words, when informed by surreal objects, leave us with a noteworthy impression of good mind. That is, an extension of the will of the mind toward a certainly positive idea.

Chorus, 2023
Oil on canvas
40 x 30 in
by Sarah Gillfilan . Courtesy of the artist and Sarah Brook Gallery. Photo by Ruben Diaz for Sarah Brook Gallery.

Birdsong, 2023
Oil on canvas
20 x 16 in
Courtesy of Sarah Gilfillan and Sarah Brook Gallery. Photo by Ruben Diaz for Sarah Brook Gallery.

Relic, 2023
Oil on canvas
20 x 16 in
Courtesy of Sarah Gilfillan and Sarah Brook Gallery. Photo by Ruben Diaz for Sarah Brook Gallery.

And these ideas are ubiquitous in her modestly sized compositions. It is worth reminding that Dali himself proudly produced artworks in such similar scales (and even smaller), helping demonstrate that beauty is not necessarily indebted to grandeur, to superfluous wonder. Indeed, to return us to the balance of the neutral color palettes, we have a newfound sense of harmony.

While the contours of the abstractions can be made more refined, more concrete, more sternly divisible in the craftsmanship of the objects, we nevertheless arrive at a happy disposition from experiencing the inconceivable, that which, while it may rhyme with the surrealist movement, can confidently yet quietly stand by themselves. That, yes, there may be the introduction of geometrical forms, but is that not positively demonstrative of that which is not derived yet necessarily betters concepts originally informed from Nature? We, therefore, have an assertion of the positive extension of the human mind, as necessarily being beautiful when it is captured with such attempts at originality.

Sphinx, 2022
Oil on canvas
20 x 16 in.
Courtesy of Sarah Gilfillan and Sarah Brook Gallery. Photo by Ruben Diaz for Sarah Brook Gallery.

Muse, 2023
Oil on canvas
24 x 20 in.
Courtesy of Sarah Gilfillan and Sarah Brook Gallery. Image by Photo by Ruben Diaz for Sarah Brook Gallery.

And what makes these works truly original? Is it the playfulness of forms in itself? Does that not merit its worthiness for experience daily? To find novelty in the beginning to move the mind towards its complete rational fulfillment towards a better instance, which we can know for certain to be that which is absent of negative, decaying, wasteful, debasing thoughts and feelings. Of that which is on the pace towards the eternal, however earthly muted. So much of what Ms. Gilfillan introduces is the quintessential trait of good fine art: artwork which is an end-in-itself.

Ends, and not means, separates the distinctly humane, and necessarily visual refinement of the fine arts, towards softening the glaring lens of being inundated in other less worthy rational goals of the human mind. To create living memory, not decaying ones, is the honor man is endowed with his – or her – free will power. Thank the Lord of the World that we are giving the freedom to make beauty.

For More information, please contact the gallery:

sarah@sarahbrookgallery.com
5229 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles CA 90027
Wednesday to Saturday, 12-5p