Harlan Johnson
Brisbane's Payment, 2011
oil on canvas
355.5 x 421.5 cm

I spent the first years of my life in the city of Halifax. Since then, I have resided in a succession of cities: Moncton, Toronto and Montreal.

My travels have led me to live briefly in various other places like Vancouver, New York and Louisiana.

All these livings have been significant in my life and work.

The east coast however, has always remained a place to return to both in person or thought.

In the most recent series I've been mapping out cultures and histories from down east, playing with forgotten clichés as well as lesser known images of personal and collective time.

I've always been fascinated with dated languages since I find they reflect light on the hidden corners of contemporary reality.

In these works the painting is layered, collaged and shifting in imitation of or alignment with the identities and themes
represented.

Harlan Johnson completed his BFA and MFA at Concordia University. Recent solos include, Puits d’huile (2008) at the McClure Gallery, Montreal, Bestiaire intime (2006) at the Galerie d'art d'Outremont and Festoon (2000) at Galerie Trois Points. Harlan's work can be found in several public art collections including Musée d'art contemporain de Montréal, the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, the collection Prêt d'oeuvres d'art du Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec and the Confederation Centre in Charlottetown.