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Image copyright: Matt Keeling.

To Jardine Bistro! …as Bank Holiday Monday flickered a fading light to try and hold back the return of the working week. There is always something rather civilised and relaxed about walking through the doors on the Belle Vue Road corner. Work woes needed calming, with the clock counting down for twelve hours ahead.

@AnnaJCowen and I had picked the perfect evening for a friendly atmosphere and last tug away on the fag end of the Wivenhoe weekend. Local artist Matt Keeling was launching his splendid A Walk Through Wivenhoe exhibition, which can be viewed at Jardine until October 4th.

I know Matt through Sunny Colc circles and the creative hub @15QueenStreet. We’ve spoken about his work before, but purely in a professional capacity for both of us.

This was the perfect chance to corner Matt (quite literally) and ask him to open up about his very unique perspective on what can become something of a traditional and cliché view of the artistic Wivenhoe landscape.

I still find it hard to define precisely the work that Matt creates. I’ll take a stab by suggesting that it is recognisable local landmarks that are then given a new dose of life with a contemporary feel.

Even publishing the images online below doesn’t do justice to the colour clashes and striking balance that Matt is able to give to the local scenes with his hybrid of the old meets the new. You really do need to witness his work first hand.

Much like Matt’s appearance at Art on the Railings earlier in the summer, A Walk Through Wivenhoe has already been well received. Sales are healthy - two more were added on Monday evening…

These monthly Jardine viewings are really working out rather well. The bistro is usually closed on a Monday evening. It shows the commitment from Cristian and his staff to offer something a little more to the local community than the fine coffee and food.

You can catch a Walk Through Wivenhoe at Jardine until 4th October. It is best viewed when you need a work pick me up, and a wake up call away from some of the more picture postcard scenes of Wivenhoe. The start of the working day would be ideal…

All images copyright: Matt Keeling.

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