Laura Power
Northern News Services
Published Friday, November 2, 2007

YELLOWKNIFE - When Tony Watier was booking artists to show their work at Birchwood Gallery this fall, Franklin Sinanan's paintings stood out to him.

Franklin Sinanan, an artist from Toronto, is in Yellowknife for an exhibit that starts next week at Birchwood Gallery. - Laura Power/NNSL photo

The abstract images created by the Toronto-based artist, according to Watier, create a social commentary about controversial themes. He said the work is "radically different" than what is normally displayed in the North, and it will add to the artistic landscape in the city.

"I think it'll add a vibrancy and an interest in something that hasn't been presented up here before," Watier said.

Sinanan has been dabbling in art since he was a small child and has been making a living with his artwork now for 15 years. He doesn't stick to any one particular style. Instead, he prefers to use mixed media, combining pencil crayon, acrylic, oil and whatever else he deems fit for the piece.

When it comes to his subjects, he doesn't focus on landscapes or still life. He instead prefers to stick to the abstract to express his views.

He says his subject matter "is about life, about struggle, love and violence. I like to feed off those things."

His style, which Watier said has a touch of Picasso and Chagall, is not necessarily for everyone, but Sinanan is not concerned about catering to any particular audience.

"It just appeals to people who like to look at art but not just as a pretty painting. It has layers to it and depth - it's more fine art than commercial work," he said.

Sinanin's work is also being displayed in a gallery in Charlotte, North Carolina, where he said he is getting a good response from viewers. This week, he'll get to test out a Northern audience for the first time in his artistic career.

"It's good to come up here and see what I'm inspired by, and I do like the ravens ... and the landscape," he said.

Sinanan said it will be good to see how people in Yellowknife react to his work, since it's "very rough and edgy."

The exhibit starts with a reception at Birchwood Gallery Monday, Nov. 5 at 6 p.m. with the artist in attendance, and will continue until Nov. 10.