Tulip Fields, the Netherlands II Print

Olaus MacLeod was born and raised in Cornwall, UK. Olaus has always had strong, dual affinities: for his Cornish heritage and his Hebridean ancestry. Educated in Cornwall, Scotland and Yorkshire, Olaus immersed himself in the diverse geography of his surroundings, which instilled in him a strong sense of the physical aesthetic of his environment and a life-long passion for travel. Throughout his adult life, Olaus has ventured to the far corners of our beautiful planet, both professionally and recreationally. Notably, Olaus spent twelve years as an airline pilot, followed by two tours in Afghanistan, operating surveillance drones in support of International Security Assistance Force operations. These roles offered Olaus the rare privilege of observing our world from above, for many thousands of hours. Olaus is particularly interested in the way that humans impose themselves on our planet; and questions the tension that this creates between order and chaos: does the built environment introduce order to a chaotic world, or does it only serve to disrupt the natural order of things? Olaus’ art communicates this tension in the way that he often imposes form and colour on the canvas; whilst at other times he allows paint and canvas to reveal their true nature. Drawing on his extensive travel and the diverse environments that he has observed from above, Olaus works in bold colours and forms, allowing him freedom of expression, in-keeping with the adventurous and outgoing approach that Olaus has, to travel and life.