Dick Der
Canadian | Born: China
Artist’s Statement
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There is a continual active dialogue between the internal self and the external reality. As a painter, I use this dialogue to make my paintings objects of contemplation, to evoke a tranquil, mystical and spiritual experience.
I work on cradled masonite or plywood on which canvas is usually stretched over the surface. There is the thrill of the alchemy that take place as various types of mixed media or collage materials are introduced to the painting and before the paint is applied.
Many of the materials are founded objects, discarded detritus from construction sites and the streets of the city, such as metal, wire, wood, machine parts, card board, etc. These materials help to structure the surface of the painting. Some of the objects are altered to change their history. A variety of subtle surfaces, textures and color are the results which invite the viewer to examine a particular detail but also encouraging an awareness of a constant change of focus within the painting. A focus that is part of the natural or man made urban decay, yet at the same time speaks of rebirth as part of the ongoing life cycle. The use of Chinese characters (calligraphy) in some of the work creates a dialogue between the elements within the paintings – not as text that should be read for a literal meaning. These Chinese characters also represent the connection between the past, present and future. The paint is both earthly and metallic in quality, a combination that expresses luminous warmth reminiscent of something ancient and archaic, a unity which evokes a sense of both the urban and the rural, at the same time leaving behind a mood of unequivocal spiritual silence and peace.
Selected Solo Exhibitions
- 2016 Time Depth, Scott Gallery, Edmonton Alberta
- 2008 Snapshots, Scott Gallery, Edmonton
- 2005 Chinatown Tango Too, Scott Gallery, Edmonton
- 2002 Chinatown Tango, Scott Gallery, Edmonton
- 1999 Recent Works, Scott Gallery, Edmonton
- 1994 In The Rough, The Works, Panini E.Vini, Edmonton
- 1993 Studio Watch, Edmonton Art Gallery, Edmonton
Selected Two Person Exhibition
- 2016 Time Depth Ed Epp. Scott Gallery, Edmonton Alberta
- 2004 Dick Der, Francisico Pro, Caelum Gallery, New York, NY
- 2000 Dick Der, David Noyes, Caelum Gallery, New York, NY
- 1997 Show Case, Monserrat Gallery, New York, New York, NY
- 1995 Free The Spirit, Dick Der and Jane Ash Poitrais, Profiles Gallery, St.Albert, Alberta
Selected Exhibitions
- 2015 Art & Design @ 50, Fine Arts Gallery, University of Alberta, Edmonton
- 2013 ECAS, 20th Anniversary Exhibition, Enterprise Square, Edmonton
- 2012 Transitions, Fine Arts Gallery, University of Alberta, Edmonton
- 2011 ECAS, 19th Annual Exhibition, Enterprise Square Gallery, Edmonton
- 2010 ECAS 18th Annual Exhibition, Enterprise Square Gallery, Edmonton
- 2009 Fall Exhibition Group Show, Scott Gallery. Edmonton
ECAS, 17th Annual Exhibition, Peter Robertson Gallery, Edmonton - 2008 Daniel Lindley presents Abstraction, Keystone Art Gallery, Calgary, Alberta
ECAS 16th Annual Exhibition, Common Sense Gallery, Edmonton
Art on the Block, Art Gallery of Alberta, Edmonton - 2007 ECAS,15th Annual Exhibition, Peter Robertson Gallery, Edmonton
- 2006 20 Years of Canadian Painting, Scott Gallery, Edmonton
ECAS, 14th Annual Painting and Sculpture Exhibit, Planet Ze, Edmonton - 2005 ECAS, 13th Edmonton Contemporary Artists Show, Great West Saddlery Building, Edmonton
Research,Visions, Staff Exhibition, Fine Arts Gallery, U of A Edmonton - 2004 International Group Show 1, Caelum Gallery, New York, NY, USA
ECAS, 12th Edmonton Contemporary Artists Show, Great West Saddlery Building , Edmonton - 2003 ECAS,11th Edmonton Contemporary Artists Show, Great West Saddlery Building, Edmonton
Field of Vision, Connect Four, Stanley A. Milner Public Library Gallery, Edmonton
Miscellaneous Connections Revisited, McMullen Gallery, Edmonton - 2002 10th Anniversary Exhibition, Edmonton Contemporary Artist’s Society,
Guest Curator, Kenworth Moffett, Edmonton Art Gallery, Edmonton - 2002 Flash Point: Painting, Fine Arts Gallery University of Alberta, Edmonton
- 2001 Sweet16, Profiles Art Gallery, St.Albert, Alberta
ECAS, 9th Edmonton Contemporary Artist Show, Arts Barn, Edmonton
Miscellaneous Connection, McMullen Gallery, Edmonton - 2000 113 Degrees West in the Cross Hairs, Fine Arts Gallery, U of A ,Edmonton
8th Annual ECAS Exhibition, Arts Barn, Edmonton - 1999 Arts Barn, 7th Annual ECAS Exhibition, Edmonton
- 1998 Arts Barn, 6th Annual ECAS Exhibition, Edmonton
- 1997 Singapore Art Exposition, Singapore
Arts Barn, 5th Annual ECAS Exhibition, Edmonton
Disrepresentation, Edmonton Art Gallery, Edmonton
Disrepresentation Travelling Show, Edmonton Art Gallery, Edmonton
Gallery Artists, Scott Gallery, Edmonton
Selected Collections
- Singapore Eromatic Company, Singapore
- Grant MacEwan College, Edmonton
- The Edmonton Art Gallery,
- The Camino Foundation
- Norcen Resources Ltd. Calgary
- Anglo Continental Limited, Hong Kong
- Alberta Cultural Branch, Red Deer
- Alberta Cultural Branch, Edmonton
- Grand Prairie College, Grand Prairie
- Numerous other Public and Private Collections
Selected Publications
Art & Design @ 50
2015 McCallun Printing, Publish by Dept. Art & Design University of Alberta
Bouchard, Gilbert, Visual Arts Preview, Snapshots, Scott Gallery
Edmonton Journal, May 2008
Bouchard, Gilbert, Visual Arts, Scott Gallery
Where Magazine, Edmonton 2008
Daniel Lindley present Abstraction
Galleries West, spring 2008
Ricciotti, Lisa, For Art’s Sake
University of Alberta Folio, February 2007
Zoltan Varadi, Caitlin Craehaw, Campus Stars
University of Alberta Folio, November 2006
Sasano, Mari, Opening ECAS at Planet Ze
Edmonton Journal, October 2006
Bouchard, Gilbert, Preview- Chinatown Tango Too, Scott Gallery
Edmonton Journal, April 2005
Bouchard, Gilbert, Review- Field of Vision, Stanley A Milner Gallery
Edmonton Journal, June 2003
Bouchard, Gilbert, Review- 10th Anniversary ECAS Show
Edmonton Journal, September 2002
Bouchard, Gilbert, Preview- Flash Point
Edmonton Journal, March 2002
Bouchard, Gilbert, Review- Dick Der at the Scott Gallery
Edmonton Journal, April 12th 2002
Mandel, Charles, Review-Disrepresentation
Edmonton Journal,1998
Early, Rita, Review
Folio, University of Alberta, 1998
Berger, Carol, Review- Sixth Annual ECAS Show
See Magazine, October 1998
Art Review, Disrepresentation Travelling Show
Jasper Booster, October 22 1998
Mandel, Charles, Review- The Works
Edmonton Journal, 1994
Cairney, Richard, Review- Dance with Spirituality
See Magazine, September 1995
Art Review, Outlook, The Edmonton Art Gallery 1993
Beauchamp, Elizabeth, Visual Arts
Edmonton Journal, March 1991
Web Site
Gallery Representation
Scott Gallery, 10411-124 Street, Edmonton, Alberta T5N 3Z5
(780) 488-3619 Fax (780) 488-4826
Dick Der is currently working for the Dept. of Art and Design in the Painting Division at the University of Alberta.
Dick Der is also an exhibiting member of the Edmonton Contemporary Artists’ Society.
Dick Der has exhibited in Montreal, Singapore, Hong Kong and New York City.
