Mystical Patterns art exhibition

Anna Fauzy-Ackroyd claims never to plan her paintings in advance, either in terms of subject or technique, and yet they emerge from beneath her hands with a harmony of colour and form that speaks even to those who claim to dislike abstract art. These paintings are simply stunning, and a large number of them grouped together on a wall gives the entire space a vibrant energy and light.
There is something childlike and trusting in her approach to her art. Like a child, she works with her fingers swirling in the oil paint, then picks out any shapes which appear on the canvas with a brush. Her openness to what paint can achieve by its own nature, and her trust in that process and courage in relinquishing the desire to control the outcome have reaped some spectacular rewards.
In this exhibition, contrast is provided to Anna's work by the disciplined geometry of six circular mandalas painted on wood by Jenni Hayden. These were inspired by the elaborate ceiling of the music room at Brighton Pavilion. What both artists have in common, apart from gorgeous use of colour, is that both processes share an element of meditation, of openness to unseen realms, and all of the artwork in this exhibition invites the viewer to join in the artists in transcendental contemplation. Both Anna and Jenni have stories to tell about the power of yielding to the influence of art and how doing so can change the life, not only of the artist themselves, but of those who come into contact with the work. Come heal your mind, at least for a short while and enjoy this lovely art exhibition.
10 am - 4pm every day, Monday to Saturday, until 28 March at The Art of Wonder, 147 High Street, Ryde, PO33 2RE