The
Artist
Julian
Friers
Julian
Friers was asked to create thrity-two paintings depicting desert wildlife
in their natural surroundings. Julian has been inspired by the landscape and
wildlife of Scotland and his native Ireland for twenty years and accepted
the opportunity with enthusiasm to travel to the magical worlds of Saudi Arabia
and Morocco. For almost three years Julian worked on the paintings which show
many 'threatened' or 'endangered' species, including some that have suffered
extinction in the wild.
Born
in 1956 in Northern Ireland where he presently lives with his wife Jill and
their three children, his paintings have been exhibited extensively throughout
the world where he continues to achieve acclaim from critics for his spontaneous
painting style.
The
Exhibitions
The
first exhibition of the 'Gifts from the Desert' paintings was in June 1999 at
The Wildfowl and Wetland Trust Centre at Castle Espie in Northern Ireland.
As an acknowledgement of their gratitude, the exhibition was sponsored by the
I.F.C.D.W. (Morocco) in association with the W.W.T. At a special opening
dinner Professor Abdul Aziz H. Abuzinada of the National Commission for Wildlife
Conservation & Development (Saudi Arabia) gave an informative presentation
to vistiting environmentalists focusing on wildlife projects and offered an
opportunity to develop conservation relationships. Many important dignitaries
from Saudi Arabia, Morocco, the USA, England and Ireland also attended the exhibition.
Julian was honoured by this support, for many years he considered Castle Espie
to be his Irish painting home. The opportunity to start an internatinsl series
of exhibitions in Northern Ireland was an honour.
The
Mall Galleries, London was selected as an appropriate international venue
for the second exhibition. Ghazi A. Algosaibi, the Ambassador of 'The Custodian
of the Two Holy Mosques' to the United Kingdom and Eire, invited guests to the
opening in October 1999. The conservation concerns of HRH Prince Sultan ibn
Abdul Aziz Al Saud was the focus of all speeches, which concluded with the presentation
of one of the fifteen Royal Edition Books to the British Museum on behalf of
HRH and the people of Saudi Arabia. The exhibition was kindly sponsored by British
Aerospace.
The latest
exhibition was held in the A&I building of the Smithsonian Institute
in September/October 2000. It was attended and enjoyed by thousands of
visitors in the two week period of its opening. The final point of call for
the exhibition shall be in the Middle East, though its exact location is to
be confirmed.
The
paintings are presently in the collection of the artist but consideration
is being given to their future. It is hoped that they will remain together
as a group of works either privately or for public exhibition.
The
Future of the Paintings
