Two important exhibitions in London last weekend: Natalia Goncharova Retrospective at Tate Modern, and Lee Krasner: Living Colour at Barbican. In Goncharova's famous painting, The Cyclist, the figure is willfully heading in the opposite direction to that indicated by the pointing authoritarian finger. It suitably sums up Goncharova's spirit. A leading figure of the new … Continue reading Palingenesis, and the Art of Everythingism
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Artists Apart
Two exhibitions in Swansea this weekend: Sarah Poland who has a residency in GS Gallery, and Frances Richards at the Glynn Vivian. Sarah Poland's mark making using inks made from oak galls has a zen-like quality. I love how she combines this with photographic images she calls 'moon-drawings', made by using a long exposure on … Continue reading Artists Apart
New Work
I have been revisiting Max Ernst's work, specifically his frottage, grattage and coulage techniques that prioritised automatism. Using his grattage (scraping) technique, Ernst covered his canvases completely with pattern and then interpreted the images that emerged, thus allowing texture to suggest composition in a spontaneous fashion. In The Forest the artist probably placed the canvas … Continue reading New Work
Painting the Tiles
This year, the fabulous Made in Roath festival have received funding from the Welsh Arts Council, and invited artists to apply to run workshops or exhibitions throughout the festival. I decided to expand on the theme of my last year's workshop, using one of Picasso's quotes: 'To draw, you must close your eyes and sing,' … Continue reading Painting the Tiles
Ibrahim El-Salahi: A Visionary Modernist
I first came across this artist at Tate Modern in 2013, surprised that this was the first exhibition there dedicated to African Modernism. Ibrahim El-Salahi has recently had a solo exhibition at the Ashmolean, Oxford where he now lives. I stood in front of this 8 foot square painting: Reborn Sounds of Childhood Dreams I (1961–5) … Continue reading Ibrahim El-Salahi: A Visionary Modernist
Exhibition: Pioneering Abstract Artists
The exhibition Surface Work (11 April - 16 June 2018 at the Victoria Miro, Mayfair) was a rich feast, with abstract work by more than 50 artists, all women, from five continents, spanning every decade between 1918 and 2018. I knew of some of the artists who have "shaped and transformed, and continue to influence … Continue reading Exhibition: Pioneering Abstract Artists
Natural Abstracts
Some stunning paintings made in response to two stories from Africa today on the Children's Art and Storytelling course that I am running at Llanover Hall Arts Centre. 'Why the Sun and Moon Live in the Sky' - a Nigerian folktale, and 'The Lion's Whisker' - an Ethiopian Folktale. Elements by Jim age 9 … Continue reading Natural Abstracts
Awkward Objects: The Work of Alina Szapocznikow
This weekend, I travelled to Wakefield to see Human Landscapes, the first UK retrospective of the work of the much-overlooked Polish artist Alina Szapocznikow (1926–1973). Powerful, innovative, disturbing, these pieces have dark undertones, which isn't surprising when you discover that Szapocznikow survived several of the Nazi camps as a teenager, and bouts of severe illness. … Continue reading Awkward Objects: The Work of Alina Szapocznikow
Expressive Drawing Workshop
A wonderful day with lots of visitors taking up our expressive drawing challenge for Made in Roath festival. We rolled out long sheets of paper, and invited participants to use paint, charcoal and pastels to experiment and have fun.
Seeking Transparency
For our Saturday afternoon drop-in session to experiment with cyanotype, or sun prints, participants brought along an assortment of things to try out on the photo-sensitive paper. Beads and seeds, feathers and flowers fresh from the garden were laid out and placed under the UV light bed for exposure. Creating compositions using a variety of … Continue reading Seeking Transparency
