Carle Hessay

Carle Hessay (1911-78) was a multitalented, European-trained artist, who was also a gymnast, pianist, prospector, seaman, and sometime vagabond, about whose life much remains unknown. In this first series of videos, CARLE HESSAY, AS WE KNEW HIM, we learn more about the man himself from interviews with people who were part of his life and from those who engaged with his paintings.

His landscapes, imaginatively recreated from his journeys into the vast interior of British Columbia, are comprised mostly of landscapes and abandoned pioneer settlements. While reflecting a desire for a simpler way of life and a home, they often have an apocalyptic or spiritual resonance. Many of his emotionally charged paintings depict city and industrial life, war scenes derived from his participation in the Spanish Civil War and World War II, and mythological/ethnic scenes. See carlehessay.com for more information.