Quetzal Earth

About Quetzal Earth

This contemporary abstract painting is by David Sorensen.

A Canadian treasure, David Sorensen pursued his own vision of abstract expressionism for decades. He was known for his lyrical, highly textured paintings that interpreted light, colour and landscape. In 1962 Sorensen visited Mexico, where he became enamoured with the ancient culture and the rich, vibrant colours of the region. He had his first solo exhibition in Mexico City and often painted on the roof of the house he purchased there.
Here, thickly applied gestural brushstrokes in vertical lines of sky blue alternate with pale yellow rolling out across the canvas. Black edging on several lines adds contrast and emphasizes the symmetry of the piece. Dabs of bright pink add visual interest. This series is named after the Quetzal, one of the most colourful birds In Mexico, viewed as sacred in Mesoamerican mythology, a symbol of freedom and light.

“To me, there is still this celebration worth the paint. And it’s about an open door that the artist used to call muse.” David Sorensen

“Through the medium of his art, a bridge is built between inner sensation and outer world experience, illusion and reality, what we cannot see and what we see, life and afterlife.” John K. Grande, Montreal poet and writer

David Sorensen was born in Vancouver and (1937-2011) studied at UBC and the Vancouver School of Art. His teachers were renowned—Arthur Erikson, Bill Reid and Jack Shadbolt. After moving to Montreal, he taught art at the Montreal School of Art, the Saidye Bronfman Centre and Bishop’s University for almost 20 years. Sorensen, a member of the RCA exhibited all over the world. His work is held in numerous private, corporate and public collections.