Adam Gunn

I made these paintings in response to a prediction for a change in the colour of the sky and oceans as a consequence of man-made climate change. This idea, described by Peter Ward in his book Under a Pale Green Sky, is based on his study of the great mass extinction events of the past. For many of these extinction events the earth’s chemistry changed the sky to green and the oceans to purple. My personal memories are often tied to colour – my first recollection is of an orange cup being handed to me, and I can vividly remember the very first time I was able to wield colour with a red crayon. As a painter, I acutely feel the significance of this change in colour of the world’s landscapes. The blue of the sky and oceans seems to have always been and as if it always will be. Although I can imagine these colours changing, I think it is difficult to feel it as a reality from just a description. With this work I tried to make sense of this possibility through painting the colour of this new world. This different colour palette for nature could be very beautiful, but it would also be deadly, with no one left to see it.

Adam Gunn is a painter based out of Nova Scotia Canada. He received a BFA from NSCAD University in Halifax, an MFA from Concordia University in Montreal and a Bachelor of Education from the University of New Brunswick. He’s been the recipient of the Nancy Petry Foundation award to paint and travel in Europe, a twice semi-finalist in the RBC Canadian Painting Competition and the Nova Scotian winner in BMO’s 1st! Art Competition. He has received grants from the Canada Council and the Nova Scotia Arts Council and has taught painting classes at both NSCAD and Concordia.

Website : www.adamalexandergunn.com

The artist acknowledges the support of the Canada Council for the Arts.