John Abell: Cariadon Y Mynydd (The Mountain Lovers): London

The Mountain Lovers is a new body of paintings by John Abell. It’s informed by a deep connection with the landscape and mountains of his home, the welsh language, and traditions of storytelling and religious devotion.

Created over the course of a year, these paintings are profoundly tied to spiritual devotion, with the mountain serving as a mother, lover, friend, and comforter. As an avid hiker, John dedicates much of his time to walking through the landscape. This is reflected in these new works, veering towards an abstract expressionist way of understanding its beauty and the connectedness of the nature, the body, and the soul that it carries.

The titles are all in Welsh, the language John uses in his day to day life. Like many languages, is intricately tied to the landscape of its origins. It was important to John to emphasise the rich poetry of the Welsh language and its profound connection to the land, and to elevate it within his work.

John Abell (1986, Cardiff, Wales) lives and works in Pontypridd, Wales.