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JOHNY DELUNA
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Johny Deluna is a Canadian artist of extraordinary coloristic and humorous talent.
His pictorial satire of surrealist interpretation depicts contemporary urban society and its relationship with nature, the cosmos and God. The connection with the art of Chagall and Dali is evident. The metamorphic human figures are represented as half-man and half-octopus and the persons with legs transformed into stilts so as not to tread on the ground, can connect with the divine. The compositions are divided into areas painted with the most stable clear surfaces that remember the background liberty of Klimt represent the shades of nature such as earth and water - the habitat of life, over which the clouds expressed in the dotted style of Seurrat. His own satirical self-image always appears in the artworks, creating the figure of witness and the storyteller of each fairy tale, painted and alluding to the style of Antonio Possenti. The flying and abducted characters like kites reminiscent of Chagall's paintings, point out the actual trivial importance of our earthly problem and unpredictability of nature, which like a whirlpool absorbs everything,. Everything is in perpetual motion, and the bay of unpredictable winds, represented by sparkling dots of pure colors that are placed next to one another, can give rise to different nuances according to the angle of view. Just as in life nothing is constant and everything is constantly changing .The atmosphere, space, and the cosmos, take over all of our earthly problems by reflecting on the fragility of our human existence. The pictorial satire, while recalling Chagall's and Possenti's art in its similarity of representation, draws some thoughts to the Renaissance humanist philosophy for example, "carpe diem" and "memento mori", inviting us to laugh at our problems, always finding a humorous point of view in everything; because as Lorenzo il Magnifico said in his Bacco song “ of tomorrow there is no certainty - Margherita Blonska - Italy -
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The Canadian artist Johny Deluna was an orphan. He started his artistic journey as a child of 4 when he was taken for a drive to get ice-cream, then left in a new house with total strangers. The woman who became his adopted mother saw that he was in total shock as he sat alone at the kitchen table. She gave him a little paint set and he pushed water colours around on the papers in front of him. He repeated this activity hundreds of times, day after day.
Not surprisingly, he grew up with great anger and distrust of adults and authority figures. Painting was his only refuge. As a child he had no control of anything in his life except his art so he became the "god of his pictures". He could create and interpret the world in the way he wanted to see it without the intervention of anyone else.
To this day, in his pictures tell important stories about our world and about profound topics that move him. He succeeds as both an artist and philosopher in wrapping serious themes in aesthetically appealing and colourful images. When seen in a large group, his paintings are a riot of colours and ideas. But they have exciting and unpredictable effects on the audience. One sees exuberant children who gleefully discover funny and beautiful creatures and events in his pictures.
Whereas, some adults are drawn to tears and others feel compelled to tell him about their own life struggles. Whatever they experience, they return again and again to their favourite pieces. Deeply moved, they recognize their own life story told in them.
Thus, the dramatic life story of the artist is reflected in a fascinating field of tension in his work, in profound stories of a life-long philosophizing sage influenced by the never-lost mind of the childlike "God of pictures".
- Christian Schneeberger - Austria -
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"Hi Johny,
Late last night, my friend and I were walking down the sidewalk, when we were stopped by the colours pouring out of your gallery. We went inside, and I was transported to a moment I will remember for the rest of my life.
I only met that friend for the first time hours before. You may remember us, I am a tall guy, and I asked you about your painting "going home". I believe she may have touched one of your paintings; we had enjoyed a few drinks before, I apologize.The moments we shared in your gallery gave me the most overwhelming feeling of pure love I have ever experienced, though temporary. Your art captured that vitality and multiplied it for us to witness. I left and I was absolutely speechless.
That moment was a culmination of everything life can offer,
and I can't thank you enough for your art.
My name is Kevin her's is Layla.
Thank you. "
Defender of Dreams 2019 102 cm x 152 cm Acrylic on canvas
This Goodbye Is Forever (2019) 101 cm x 203cm Acrylic on canvas
Still Life With Fruit (2019) 152cm x 102 cm Acrylic on canvas
THE ROYAL RUMBA
(2019) 102 x 137 cm
Acrylic on canvas
THE MAESTRO.
(2018) 102 x 152 cm
Acrylic on canvas
HARD DECISIONS
(2018) 102 x 152 cm
Acrylic on canvas
KIND MADONNA
(2018)
147 x 102 cm
Acrylic on canvas
COUNTING ANGELS (2018)
137 x 107 cm
Acrylic on canvas
Texas Two Step
(2017)
107 x 107 cm
Acrylic on canvas
DANCE WHILE THE MUSIC PLAYS (2017)
132 x 102 cm
Acrylic on canvas
EATING SPAGHETTI WITH SCISSORS - Version 2. ( 2016)
86 x 122 cm
Acrylic on canvas
SAINT CROCODILE'S DAY. (2017)
102 x 132 cm
Acrylic on canvas
DONT LOOK DOWN - DONT LOOK BACK (2016)
76 x 122 cm
Acrylic on canvas
THE HAIRCUT (2013)
112 x 122 cm
Acrylic on canvas
NIGHT FLIGHT (2016)
86 x 137 cm
Acrylic on canvas
THE 3 MIRACLES (2013)
102 x 152 cm
Acrylic on canvas
COLLATERAL DAMAGE (2014)
91 x 122 cm
Acrylic on canvas
BEAUTIFUL DREAMER (2017)
92 x 122 cm
Acrylic on canvas
HE LOVED HIS FLOWERS (2013)
91 x 127 cm
Acrylic on canvas
A BAD DEAL (2011)
91 x 122 cm
Acrylic on canvas
ENEMIES ARE MORE USEFUL THAN FRIENDS (2013)
152 x 122 cm
Acrylic on canvas
FEAR OF FLYING (2016)
97 x 107 cm
Acrylic on canvas
INVENTING TRUTH (2010)
91 x 122 cm
Acrylic on canvas
NO FREE LUNCH (2012)
91 x 122 cm
Acrylic on canvas
TRUST ME (2010)
91 x 122 cm
Acrylic on polyvinyl
DANCING IN THE DARK (2012)
91 x 61 cm
Acrylic on canvas
TV TIME (2010)
91 x 122 cm
Acrylic on polyvinyl
I WON'T PLAY (2012)
107 x 107 cm
Acrylic on canvas
SWISS GOLD (2012)
102 x 122 cm
Acrylic on canvas
WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION (2011)
91 x 122 cm
Acrylic on canvas
DUET FOR ONE (2015)
61 x 91 cm
Acrylic on canvas
I WOULD LOVE YOU IF YOU WERE A CHAIR (2014)
97 x 97 cm
Acrylic on canvas
SELLING THE MOON (2015)
91 x 127 cm
Acrylic on canvas
ONLY PRETTY BIRDS GO TO HEAVEN (2013)
116 x 127 cm
Acrylic on canvas
HE LOVED HIS FLOWERS (2013)
91 x 127 cm
Acrylic on canvas
PROTECTING THE POND (2013)
128 x 102 cm
Acrylic on canvas
DANCING IN THE DARK (2012)
91 x 61 cm
Acrylic on canvas
WISHING FOR SOMETHING BETTER (2015)
61 x 91 cm
Acrylic on canvas
SONG TO THE MOON (2016)
71 x 117 cm
Acrylic on canvas
HALF THE TRUTH MOST OF THE TIME. (2014)
102 x 157 cm
Acrylic on canvas
STRANGE CRIMES. (2013)
102 x 102 cm
Acrylic on canvas
BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR. (2010)
91 x 122 cm
Acrylic on polyvinyl
CHASING THE MOON. (2013)
107 x 122 cm
Acrylic on canvas
PORT HOPE. (2012)
102 x 117 cm
Acrylic on canvas
GOING HOME. (2013)
91 x 173 cm
Acrylic on canvas
A PRAYER FOR THE LAST HONEST ANGEL (2015)
97 x 127 cm
Acrylic on canvas
LAST TANGO. (2011)
91 x 122 cm
Acrylic on polyvinyl
A NIGHT TO REMEMBER. (2015)
91 x 122 cm
Acrylic on canvas
APRIL IN NEW YORK. (2012)
91 x 127 cm
Acrylic on canvas
THE KISS. (2015)
97 x 122 cm
Acrylic on canvas
THE USUAL SUSPECTS. (2017)
81 x 122 cm
Acrylic on canvas
CHOOSE WISELY. (2014)
61 x 91 cm
Acrylic on canvas
6 SIDED DREAM (2017)
81 x 127 cm
Acrylic on canvas
