The writings of James Joyce are the inspiration for Austrian-born artist Ernst Arnold Bauer’s exhibition of lithographs which opens this evening at the Elliot Gallery, Kaleidoscope Arts Foundation in Devonshire.

The body of work, created over the past five years, represents Mr. Bauer’s interpretation of his feelings and what he sees when reading Joyce’s classic, ‘Ulysses’.

Bauer imagines encountering the writer James Joyce during his intensive reading, and envisages the author emerging directly from the pages to meet him.

The drawings are intense, and the artist continues to work on them “until they are complete”.

Mr. Bauer is a frequent visitor to the Island, and this is the second time he has participated in an exhibition at the Elliott Gallery.

The internationally successful artist has also exhibited in Austria, Germany, Poland and the United States. A 2002 retrospective, encompassing more than 30 years of his work, was presented in the Reithalle of the Klenzepark, Ingolstadt, Austria. Mr. Bauer is a graduate of the Linz Academy of Fine Arts, and studied under Professor Dr. Alfons Orner in his master class.

“We are thrilled and delighted that Ernst has decided once again to show in our gallery,” Kaleidoscope Arts Foundation president, Fiona Rose Rodriquez-Roberts, said.

“To have an artist of this calibre show in the gallery is a very special treat.

“His support is gratefully appreciated, and we hope that this kind of show will introduce an even larger audience to our new space.”[bul] The Elliot Gallery, Kaleidoscope Arts Foundation, is located on the corner of Jubilee and Parsons Roads, Devonshire DV 04, 236-5963. Tonight’s opening reception is from 6.30 p.m. to 8.30 p.m., and the exhibition continues through May 22.