Galerie D Du 27 mai 2009 au 30 juin 2009 Bryan Lanier lives and works in Montreal. Growing up part of an American military family, he never set down roots for very long as a child. While living in Alaska, exposure to Native American/Eskimo art and the use of animal symbolism had a profound effect on him. While living in Japan, Bryan became interested in Zen philosophy, paper craft, ink brush techniques and traditional Japanese tattoo designs. Before moving to Quebec, he spent 8 years in Orlando, Florida. He worked in the high-pressure theming industry as a muralist, sculptor and fabricator while continuing his fine arts education. During this time, he was a contributor to many group shows and inevitably launched his first solo show in 2005. His second solo opened in 2007 shortly before relocating to Quebec. His artwork deals with the human experience, universal themes, and the constantly changing perception of reality that we confront in trying to reach for our dreams in this modern world. His ideas and feelings are expressed through a library of symbols, "instinctive images", colors and textures which recur in his subconscious mind. Often, the images seem to be "received" and the process of executing them can be a compulsive and revelatory one. Living in Montreal has had a large influence on his artistic inspiration and output since his arrival. The receptive attitude toward self-expression, the seasonal changes and deeply rooted culture here have been invaluable in allowing a "personal renaissance" for him. In particular, the beautiful oxidized green and copper of the historic cathedral churches that rise over the city is a thread that runs through many of the paintings in this collection. Also seen is an attempt to reconcile the urban with the classical, the bohemian with the religious, the young with the old, the sexual with the spiritual, the personal with the global, etc…in an attempt to find some understanding of this life on earth. Xavier Raymond