

Portrait of Ben Johnson, courtesy the artist
Ben Johnson
Ben Johnson is best known for his paintings based on architectural spaces (some almost forensically accurate, others heavily manipulated) and his large-scale, intricately detailed cityscape paintings, which include panoramas of Hong Kong, Zurich, Jerusalem, Liverpool and most recently London, which was completed as part of a residency at the National Gallery. In recent years he has had an obsession for the intrinsic beauty of Islamic geometry; especially through the architecture of the Alhambra in Granada, Spain and the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem.
This will be the third edition of Cure3 that Johnson has taken part in. Each time he has embraced the space to explore three-dimensional sculptures that are intrinsically linked to his painting practice. This year is no exception, with Hall of Mirrors, he plays with his audience, creating an illusion through mirrors whilst
exploring the effect on his signature Islamic tile patterns. "What is real and what is an illusion? Is a reflection a truth or a lie?" This work engages with Johnson's passions and the series of paintings that he has been exhibiting for the last decade, whilst allowing us an exclusive insight into his constantly enquiring mind.
Exhibitions
Cure3, Bonhams, London, 2020