DRIFTER

MAY 2019

Drifter follows a character who doesn’t settle, wandering through imagined landscapes. This idea of untouched, natural spaces has long inspired Sutherland, and in this fifth solo exhibition with Salon91, it takes center stage. His paintings explore pure landscapes, offering an experience of self disconnected from societal or cultural attachments. Sutherland’s own awe of nature is captured through his signature solitary figure, dwarfed by the vastness of the surroundings.

The character moves through diverse settings—forest, beach, lake, and mountain—often encountering traces of past habitation, but the series predominantly imagines uninhabited spaces in a state of peaceful calm. The drifter, much like explorers or modern wanderers, has no fixed destination, seeking experiences and adventures without permanent roots. This idealized figure, often explored by philosophers and storytellers like Herman Hesse, comments on the conventions of contemporary society. The viewer is invited to drift alongside the character, moving through places that evoke a spiritual connection.

Drifter will showcase Sutherland’s new oil paintings and monotype prints, marking an exciting shift in medium. This allows him to forge a fresh relationship with the painted surface, deepening his exploration of the landscape encounter.