My first visit to this fabulous exhibition of work by both well known and new artists.
https://www.royalacademy.org.uk/exhibition/summer-exhibition-2019
Just some of the highlights of my visit on 8th August 2019 are:
1.Thomas Houseago, Large Walking Figure 1 (left) and Untitled Red Man (right), bronze
Both enormous sculptures of intriguing humanoid figures, rough castings with finger prints still visible. Enlarged feet and hands, skeletal face.
2. Alexander Mochalov, Rachmaninoff: Piano Concert No. 2, Oil
Abstract and mosaic-like, black outlines Full of things beyond the orchestra that you don’t at first notice: children, bells, a couple of horses, a snake and a man with a spear. I guess these relate to the underlying meaning of the music but even with a quick google I’m none the wiser.
3. Alison Watt, Entente, Oil
Incredible use of tone variation to paint what looks like a real piece of folded paper – wow!
4. Alselm Kiefer, Five years Vainamoinen lived on the unknown island on the treeless land (translated from German) (left) with detail (right), mixture of paints
Enormous piece with limited pallet, german wording included and texture. Like a field after harvest with plant spikes in lines leading the eye off into the distance. Certainly gives the feel of the bleak barren land of little hope.
5. Anthony Green, Mary and her Mother – Parkinson’s (left) and Mary Cozens-Walkers’ World (right), both Oil on board
Several pieces by this artist which are easily recognisable by their pallet of golds and oranges. Very sensitive portrayal of the lady with her personal possessions around her. Left piece is layers: 2 boards with a small window in the front one to view the one behind we can also look around the edges. The right piece particularly interested me as it uses multiple perspectives of the room in a similar way to my Drawing Assignment 2 (link below). Love how he has used an irregular shaped support and added the door and picture from the wall behind the painter.
https://sarahsblog540235187.wordpress.com/category/assignments/assignment-2/
6. Christopher Oldfield, Graduation (with detail on right), Oil
Intriguing; we start with 2 figures (or is that a third on the left?) smiling at the viewer, these than blur as if a ghostly figure has taken them over by the last frame. Spoilt for me by the highly glossed layer over the paintings which detracts from the images, like viewing through glass.
7. Ed Gray, Silicon Roundabout, Old Street. Acrylic, Ink, charcoal and chalk on board.
A busy street of people going about their own business. Figures are almost skeletal. Limited use of mid tones – all dark or light. White outlines to distinguish detail in places. Perspective skewed on left side to include the view further down the road.
8. Emily Allchurch, Babel Britain (after Verhaecht), transparency on LED lightbox
‘Babel Britain (after Verhaecht)’ once again adopts the Tower of Babel theme, (previously used by Allchurch to portray the city of London in 2005 and 2015), but this time as a comment on the state of Britain in its entirety. This piece is based upon Tobias Verhaecht’s (1561-1631) large-scale painting of the ‘Tower of Babel’, displayed at the Norwich Castle Museum and Art Gallery. (From: https://www.jamesfreemangallery.com/artworks/emily-allchurch/babel-britain-after-verhaecht viewed 11/8/2019)
This piece stood out from all the rest within the room with its illuminated sky and water – the wonders of using a lightbox. A thought provoking composition deserving a longer detailed study to spot all those little details (castles to tower blocks to car parks, flags and cranes, every type of building materials possible…)
9. Grace O’Connor, Blonde on Blonde, Oil
A scrap book style poster wall of blondes – all painted though and the tape isn’t real either. Beautifully done, I guess painted from a real wall.
10. Hilary Paynter, Herculaneum, Wood Carving
I was drawn to this before looking up its title and thought it must be these Roman ruins in the shadow of Mt Vesuvius – the city as was complete with harbour arches, overlooked by the city of modern buildings and with the towering volcano behind in silhouette. Very detailed and planned out. Recognisable yet not true to life.
11. Ishbel Myerscough, Lily and Quaye, Oil (cropped detail on right)
Beautifully realistic painting of skin tones against silky background. Not sure about the overall composition myself, too predictable? made to fit the canvas with feet and head touching edge? I love the contrast of the dark skin against the white belly – perhaps a crop as above would work better.
12. Marcus Harvey, The Victory, Oil on inkjet on board
Photo of sea and sky with painted ship. Abstract images used to make up the ship – female figure, letters A and D, icy spikes and round shield like shapes. Would love to know what it all symbolises.
13. Melissa Scott-Miller, Islington Back Gardens with Self, Oil
Interesting composition of a view usually unseen of peoples private gardens. And viewed from a high point looking down on the artist herself. Makes you feel that you’re really being nosey and looking into their gardens without their knowledge.
14. Mimmo Paladino, Untitled, bronze
Imposing figure holding a branch and tangle of wire containing numbers – why? this is one piece that definitely needs a title!
15. Nicola Bealing, Darn, Ink Oil and spray paint on linen
A darn as in a sewed patch to mend a woolen item but it’s actually snakes! Good use of light and tones to make bodies 3D and real. Each pattern different. Snakes and Ladders. Great composition combining real and abstract.
Chiholy Glass Exhibition at Kew Gardens:
Spectacular display of blown glass by Dale Chihuly. The enormous size of each piece is it’s real attraction together with the vibrant colours of the glass. Base colour attached to rod and blown a little then rolled in granules of each contrasting colour in turn. Granules used so as to give the irregular variation in tones (through thickness of glass). Settings used to really shown each piece off to best effect: red/orange rods like flames in wild grasses, spheres in raked gravel, huge string of flowers hanging from glasshouse roof and intricate shells of cups within cups well lite in spotlights.
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