A professor of art history and archeology, and a member of the Regina Five, Bloore made important contributions to postwar Canadian art. Instrumental in bringing about the Emma Lake workshops in northern Saskatchewan, the artist maintained a rigorous practice throughout his career that focused on constructed abstract work with limited colour palettes, favouring shades of white and geometric forms.
Having studied archeology throughout his undergraduate and graduate studies, the influence of archeological excavation and the study of various civilizations worked its way into the artist’s highly theoretical practice. Bloore also travelled extensively, absorbing the visual culture and incorporating theories of symbolism into his final works. From 1973-74, the artist travelled to Greece, Turkey, Iran and Spain, countries steeped in rich complex cultural and political histories. During his travels, Bloore became inspired by the symbolism and archaeological quality of the remaining architecture of these early civilizations. Upon his return to Canada the following year, Bloore destroyed all his previous work and renounced the use of colour, hoping to achieve the same transcendental quality he felt while looking at ancient architecture. The monochromatic palette of “Untitled” references the white marble buildings and sculptures of ancient Greece and the Classical period.
