Daniel DeSilva is a neo-precisionist. His current exhibition in one of the new, small galleries at the Bermuda Society of Arts, is a continuation of a style of painting that he has consistently pursued for a number of years.

Initially, Precisionism was an American style of painting that developed during the 1920s. The principal artists in this movement were Charles Demuth, Charles Sheeler, Ralston Crawford, Niles Spencer and Georgia O'Keeffe, who along with Charles Sheeler was the primary artists in the formulation of this movement.

Precisionist paintings are notable for their hard edges, clean colour and often, a up-close detailed and somewhat cropped view of the subject. This too, describes Daniel DeSilva's way of painting.

It is especially notable that a number of the precisionists mentioned above, painted in Bermuda.

The Bermuda environment, with clean air seemingly defying the usual recession of detail with distance, cleanly cut lawns and tidy, colourful architecture suggests precisionism and for this reason, perhaps, the Bermuda landscape attracted them.

DeSilva, in his artist's statement, writes: "design, colour and composition influence the development of the majority of my works. I am inspired by the sight of Bermuda, and the glances at the Island around me are what drive me to produce my work. A brief glimpse of a building or local flora is full of interest and information for me. The strong elements of design found within the sights of Bermuda encourage one to take a longer look. In my work, line and colour are brought together in a form that relates directly to the observation of reality. It is a form that I have called design realism."

This statement aptly describes the reason why Bermuda appeals not only to Daniel DeSilva, but also to these earlier painters as well.

Precisionism was at one time or another, known as Cubist-Realism or Cubo-Realism. These labels suggests a relationship to Cubism and doubtless, the geometric simplification of this movement stems from Cubism.

Charles DeMuth, who played a prominent part in the development of Precisionism, came to this style through his meeting with the French Cubist, Albert Gleizes, while both were working in Bermuda during the autumn/winter of 1916-1917. Thus Cubism, to a certain extent, is also linked with Bermuda. Examples of their work are in the Masterworks Collection and will be on view, once their new facility is open to the public after March of next year.

I am not suggesting that Daniel Desilva is consciously following the precisionists or that he was aware of their influence on his artistic development, nevertheless, it does seem that the tidy appearance of Bermuda encourages this kind of painting. However, since DeSilva studied art history under me at Bermuda College, some years ago now, I know that he was at least made aware of these artists.

Influence is interesting, in that we may be influenced without being conscious of it; we grasp concepts and use them without any awareness of their source.

The DeSilva exhibition consists of 15 paintings; all in this Precisionist style. It is an exhibition that most will enjoy, especially if the Bermuda landscape appeals to you.

The exhibition continues through November 21.