ALAS, POOR GHOST!

A NARRATIVE SERIES OF EIGHT PAINTINGS

Opening Reception September 7 from 5-8pm

Artist discussion with Telluride Theatre September 7 at 6:00

Join Ah Haa in welcoming Kristopher Castle to the Daniel Tucker Gallery where he presents a collection of 8 narrative oil paintings exploring behind the scenes of Hamlet.

Kristopher’s artistic output exists in two spaces. In the first, his narrative paintings, organized into cohesive bodies of work, explore subjects and concepts that fascinate him – often from the past, but within contemporary settings. Drawing upon his history as a professional costume designer, he portrays characters from his imagination to help tell these stories, evoking a sense of performance and theatricality. He employs historical symbolism, allegory and whimsy to convey deeper truths and to question prevailing mainstream narratives. 

Within the other space of his practice – paintings for his own personal collection or for commissions, he paints the world as he observes it, striving for clarity and eschewing affect. His figurative and landscape works evoke a vivid sense of aloof individualism and quiet ambiguity.

“I’ve spent years learning about this subject, and several more years developing, planning and executing this series of paintings. I was compelled to do so because I believe in the power of Shake-speare to remain relevant – to transcend medium, time period, and the changing English language. And as an artist, I can’t begin to imagine the anguish of losing the right to claim a life’s work as one’s own. History isn’t only written by the winners, because the winners eventually die and the social conventions that encourage the need for secrets, diminish over time. These paintings are my ode to Edward de Vere, the seventeenth Earl of Oxford, the true author of the Shake-speare plays and poems.” 

Learn more about the exhibition on the latest episode of Don’t Quill the Messenger