Bermuda's melodic qualities will be on display at an exhibition by South African artist Gustav Vermeulen opening today at the Masterworks Gallery.

Mr. Vermeulen is the current Artist in Residence for Masterworks and has been living and working in Bermuda for the past three months. He hosted a slideshow of his work on August 19. Museum members and others got to meet him and hear about his background and how he has approached his work on the Island.

He is currently the Academic Head and Lecturer in Drawing and Illustration at The Open Window School of Visual Communication in Pretoria.

"As a painter I was immediately struck by how the light in Bermuda differs from that of Africa," said Mr. Vermeulen. "I am particularly interested by its melodic quality, its subtlety compared to the severe and often stark lighting conditions encountered in the African landscape.

"I also find the history of the Island intriguing. Its unique architecture, the town planning and the tropical character of the Island provided much inspiration. I feel the only way to do justice to the staggering subtleties and nuances of the land will be to paint the Bermudian landscape."

His artwork will feature mainly oil paintings of Bermudian artifacts and landspaces and his interest in psychology adds a depth to the work. He explores the Island's historical identity and the wear of time on the Bermuda landscape and collective cultural memory.

"The landscape, actual or imaginary, is perhaps one of the strongest and most universal cultural metaphors," said Mr. Vermeulen. "For this reason I choose primarily to investigate the landscape and space in my art. As a painter and draughts-person, I am concerned with creating spaces that meander between the real and imaginary world and between the physically possible, and the mentally constructed world. I frequently make use of symbolism to reveal the nature of a specific landscape. These symbols make reference to nature and history, the scars it bears and what it comes to represent to its people, hinting at its ever changing role in our lives."

Through the landscape, Mr. Vermeulen has attempted to explore socio-political environments, cultural influences and physical beauty. This approach means that these multi-layered paintings are intended to become 'living' spaces that provide a tangible space within which to explore our own nature.

"Mr. Vermeulen doesn't just paint landscapes, but he attempts with every work to pinpoint a frame of mind," said Julie Butler, Masterworks marketing coordinator. "Be that cultural or historical, every painting has a specific purpose, to showcase an emotional tie he felt with a place or an object, or to try and portray some historical anecdote he found particularly interesting."

For the first three weeks of his stay he travelled the Island soaking up the feel of Bermuda.

Towards the end of his working period, Mr. Vermeulen spent some time in the St. George's Historical museum, creating a few paintings done from inside the building which meant dealing with a different light altogether than he had worked with outside.

He used some African artifacts, symbols and toys made by the Boer prisoners of war in Bermuda as references to establish an interrelated common 'space' in some works. He said he felt that by this time he was able to mix his Bermuda experience with his cultural background and create a new "known".

Mr. Vermeulen will be teaching adult workshops starting on September 28 with the first of two drawing workshops, and on September 20, the first of four painting workshops will begin.

For the painting sessions, Mr. Vermeulen encourages students to come with at least a concept, or even a sketch, photo or object and he suggests those who sign up have some painting experience.

The drawing classes, on the other hand, are open to all levels of ability, and while he will provide objects to draw, students can bring something also.

All other materials will be provided. For more information contact Suzie Hooper on 236-2950 or check the website under Education / Adult Workshops.

The exhibit opens on September 16, from 5.30 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Rick Faries Gallery and runs until September 28. Regular museum hours are 10a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday to Saturday, admission is $5 or free for members.