David Simper caught the service 61 bus to the Tea Amantes cafe and gallery to take in its latest arts offering with some live music thrown in. If you like art nouveaux and the pre-raphaelites with a flavour of pagan imagery, this is the show for you.
On entering Tea Amantes the place was already buzzing. The pieces in this exhibition are generally large and it didn’t take long to get round despite the number of people. These paintings use a bright palette and reference mythology and pagan themes, art nouveaux and the pre-raphaelites being clear influences. Several are self portraits including a Medusa, which some might find a less than flattering illusion, if they haven’t read the full story. The technique is excellent and the composition strong.
ALMORA, the artist behind the works and also a solo musician, descibes the works as drawing the viewer into an enchanting, immersive escape – a celebration of art, music and imagination, where the boundaries of fantasy and reality blur seamlessly. There is also reference to fictional realms including Dungeons and Dragons, Game of Thrones and Lord of the Rings.
I asked ALMORA what the thinking behind her approach is – where does the stress on self-portraits come from?
“The self-portraits are usually connected to the music I make, because I want it to be quite obvious that I’ve done the music that’s connected to the painting. Paintings such as the building or the one I did for the local Skate Like a Gal collective are just for the sake of painting or beauty. I really love Art Nouveaux, the Pre-Raphaelites and Alphonse Mucha. Usually when it’s a self-portrait, it’s to capture the emotions of the song and what I’m trying to convey.
I note a pretty clear pagan influence in the work.
“Oh yes definitely. I’m quite drawn to it I suppose. I find it interesting that it is the roots of our heritage, which English people don’t really talk about much. I kind of wish that they did. I find the Green Man really fascinating.”
Thank you to ALMORA for these insights into her process. The links between the art and the music became clearer during the music performance later on.
Each of the songs related and added context to the paintings. This was a first for me and as anticipated and intended, it was an immersive experience.
Another new thing for this show was that I could hear people discussing which of the pieces they were intending to buy, in fact some were being marked up as sold right there and then. I shall have to buy some red dots for Anna, who runs the gallery, as these seemed to be absent – one must have red dots.
As ever, the Tea Amantes team kept us stocked up with snacks, teas and other drinks. These included some petite and particularly delicious cakes.
The exhibition is on show until 1st December 2024. It’s definitely worth a stroll down to Albert Road for a viewing. Also stock up on delicious leaf teas while you’re there.
With ALMORA’s songs ringing in my ears, I repaired to Clifton Street and caught the service 3a bus home.
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