Roderick Knudslien

Curiosity for everyday objects is something that Roderick and I have in common. It has driven our work determinedly almost as much as our place of origin. Roderick's hometown Riley, Alberta, has never completely vanished from his paintings.  Growing up on the Canadian prairies encourages the eye to accept pure colours and uninterrupted vistas. The immeasurable open landscapes reveal miles of spectacular colour, shadow and light which can always be seen in Roderick's paintings.  To some, the Canadian prairies are barren, but to others it offers a non-judgmental perceptiveness that is ripe for the picking in art.
An observant eye can detect the bold lines of a prairie artist combined with a newcomer's optimism in Roderick's most recent work. His sense of curiosity is revealed in the subject matter - for it is not always the widely accepted subjects of 'beauty' that he paints.  True to his rural background, Roderick favours utility over sensation and people over material objects. As a natural progression, his most recent work attains a new level of complexity inspired by the artful culture and remarkable landscapes of Indonesia. In an architectural sense his work is humane, vernacular, and beautiful.
In twenty-some years of friendship Roderick and I have chosen similar paths. He holds fascination with culture on canvas while I explore culture in the built environment. We are both driven by personal displacement of country, culture, or vocation. We share a fascination with what the newcomer sees as well as the responsibility of cultural empathy, respect, and responsiveness.  We both approach problems with the pragmatism of the prairies, the curiosity of a newcomer, and the understanding of a need for multi-lateral communication. It is through this method that Roderick's work achieves an attentive view into culture that continues to grow more magnificent over time.

Kelley Beaverford
Executive Director, Architects Without Borders Canada
Assistant Professor, Faculty of Architecture, University of Manitoba, Canada