Time Anchors to the Past and Fireflies in the Sky
The exhibition Time Anchors to the Past and Fireflies in the Sky marks a new chapter in Ricky Lee Gordon’s practice, unfolding in dialogue between Barcelona and Bali. In this series, the South African artist continues his exploration of the relationship between nature, memory, and spirituality, developing a material language rooted in the principle of “painting nature with nature.”
Mineral pigments, plant dyes, beeswax, copper, and alchemical processes give form to landscapes that emerge as material meditations, anchoring time to the past while opening—like fireflies in the sky—towards the ephemeral and the eternal. Each work is a contemplative act that illuminates the interconnectedness of all life, where the pictorial gesture becomes a vehicle of awareness and belonging to a greater whole.
Recognized by National Geographic as one of “street art’s 11 greats,” Gordon has expanded his practice from large-scale murals with social and environmental messages—created in collaboration with Amnesty International, Greenpeace, and the United Nations—towards a more intimate and experimental body of studio work. His journey has taken him from Johannesburg to Cape Town, Los Angeles, and Sri Lanka, before settling in Bali, where in 2024 he founded SUN.CONTEMPORARY, a gallery and interdisciplinary platform that fosters dialogue between emerging and established Indonesian and international artists.
From Barcelona to Bali, this exhibition offers a journey in which Ricky Lee Gordon’s work resonates with the spirit of both cities: anchored in the past, luminous in the present, and open to the infinite.
