Preview: Atlas Azure Debuts 'The First Breath' Exhibition in Soho Square

On Friday evening, a private viewing was held in Soho Square to debut Atlas Azure's latest exhibition, 'The First Breath.'

The collection is primarily inspired by the emotion of grief, which Atlas explains has been a driving force behind both his art and poetry. For Atlas, this collection marks a pivotal moment in his personal and artistic journey, as he continues to move forward and explore how to harness grief without being consumed by it. The First Breath can also be seen as a source of optimism, highlighting Atlas’s efforts to prevent darker emotions from dictating his life. He explains that the collection was originally titled The Last Gasp. However, as he progressed, he felt a change was necessary. Swapping "last" for "first" and "gasp" for "breath" he's able to invoke a new sense of calm and signal a new beginning.

Although the pieces may originate from a place of darkness, the evening was imbued with a sense of light as the young art community gathered to celebrate the achievement of creating something profoundly meaningful from the remnants of loss and adversity. The atmosphere at the gallery was filled with a vibrant buzz, as guests were simultaneously immersed in Atlas’s paintings and the energy in the space that he'd created.

Image Credits: Makeda, 2024, Acrylic on board, Atlas Azure

Despite being painted entirely in shades of black, the collection exhibits an unwavering dynamism. The use of black allows viewers to focus exclusively on the lines of the work. Each piece is accompanied by a poem written by Atlas, several of which he performed live on the evening. His blend of art and poetry combine to depict a range of emotions, each medium enhancing the other. The elongated, expressive brushstrokes evoke a sense of movement—both forward and in terms of emotional depth. The lack of linearity in the lines mirrors the fluctuating nature of the grieving process.

To keep up to date with Atlas’ next exhibition you can find him on instagram @atlasazure. We look forward to seeing what’s next for Atlas in both his poetic and artistic ventures.

By Maggie Horneff September 2024