Ravilious

Loved this exhibition at Dulwich Picture Gallery. It contains many of Ravilious's iconic images, and a good few that I had never seen before which are held in private collections. Ravilious's reputation suffers in comparison to other artists of that age, because apart from the Morley College murals that he worked on with Edward Bawden, his work was rather modest in scale, and he chose to work in watercolour rather than oil paints - the medium traditionally favoured by other artists. 

Ravilious's watercolour technique however is absolutely beautiful, and these paintings are like little time capsules of a bygone era, full of obsolete machinery and modes of transport. They fill you with nostalgia and make you yearn for those simpler times.

I loved the watercolours that captured the secrecy of the British intelligence war rooms of the 1940s, as well as the more popular landscapes with chalk figures. All of his themes - interiors, landscapes, war artist, and watercolour designs for ceramics are represented.

I thought Ravilious was almost as good as Imagined Realities the large birth centenary retrospective of his work held at the Imperial War Museum in 2003, and hope to visit the show at Dulwich again before it closes.

Ravilious
until 31st August
Dulwich Picture Gallery
London SE21
www.dulwichpicturegallery.org.uk

True Colours

This is my latest commission, a piece entitled - True Colours, (after the song made famous by Cyndi Lauper - but the Eva Cassidy version!). It was commissioned as a wedding gift for a lovely couple who are soon to be married, and created to complement a fabulous orange sofa. Its new home is in the most beautiful period house in central London. It was a great commission, and a privilege to create something that the happy couple adore, and will be a cherished part of their future journey together. It was a pleasure to meet you A & T. Congratulations and Good Luck for your big day, (and yes, I will definitely hold you to your offer of visiting rights!)

Pangaea II: New Art From Africa And Latin America

The first part of this show from last year focusing on emerging African and Latin American artists (see here), was one of my favourites of 2014, so I looked forward to seeing this second instalment. I was not disappointed. It was a really strong show. Like last year the curators again opened the show with a stunning installation in the first room. Last year it was Rafael Gomezbarros' spiders, this year it was in the form of 97, 000 blue plastic bags, which comprise a piece entitled Everything Must Go - the work of:-

Jean-Francois Bocle: 

 

It is a comment on human consumerism and waste, and a metaphor for the sea, and the lives lost to the sea during the transatlantic slave trade. Never would have thought plastic bags could have such an impact artistically. I loved both the scale and simplicity of this installation. Other artists/works that impressed me were:- 

Armand Boua:
These are thought provoking graphic paintings using tar and acrylic on cardboard boxes that address themes such as child abduction, politics, ritual sacrifice, sex trafficking and man's inhumanity to man.

Virginia Chihota:
The drawing style and textured surface of Chihots's works reminded me of childrens book illustrations from the 1960s by illustrators like Ezra Jack Keats. 

Alexandre da Cunha:
These straw hats stuck onto coloured canvases were oddly compelling. 

 

I thought these objects were ceramic plant pots at first glance, but on closer inspection they turned out to be painted tyres given a new context, purpose and meaning. Loved the colour combinations.

 

 

Federico Herrero:
Another artist who uses colour really well on a large scale.

 

Diego Mendoza Imbachi:
I loved the huge scale, drawing, and simplicity of these works, as well as the nature/eco theme.

Jorge Mayet:
These sculptural works representing trees and plants were amazing. They look so real but are made from electrical wire, paper, fabrics and acrylics.

Ephrem Solomon:
Blogged about Solomon last year (here). Love his take on linocutting.

Mikhael Subotzky:
I like the way Subotzky composes his photographs. He has a good eye, and real painterly sensibilities in terms of composition. They remind me of paintings by J-F Millet, like -The Gleaners (1857).

Subotzky's photograph below reminded me of Gustave Caillebotte's - The Floorscrapers (1875), one of my favourite paintings.

Most powerful was this beautiful little girl with those awful words scrawled across her forehead. What were her parents thinking?
 

Rafael Gomezbarros:
Great to see the return of these amazing eerie skull-spiders.

Pangaea II: New Art From Africa and Latin America 
until 6th September 2015
Saatchi Gallery
Duke of York's HQ
King's Road
London 

Hermes Wanderland

This exhibition at the Saatchi Gallery was a delightful surprise and a bonus to the main Pangaea II show that I had gone to see. It is so wonderfully designed and curated and a magical experience. Hermes is a luxury brand and this exhibition showcases their immaculately crafted wares. 

Entrance to the exhibition

Visitors enter the exhibition Narnia-style, through a large wardrobe and are transported through magical rooms displaying items from Hermes historic collections.

A map of the different rooms

The exhibition is a celebration of the concept of Flanerie - the 19th century French art of the leisurely stroll. It's about curiosity, walking the streets of the city, seeing it through fresh eyes and enjoying the discoveries you make.

Topsy-turvy street furniture containing vintage Hermes pieces

There are eleven rooms in the exhibition, and I made discoveries whilst strolling through them, about the 178 year old Hermes brand and the levels of luxury and craftsmanship that the Hermes brand represents. I was surprised by the unashamed opulence of the items on display, and it seems that one's imagination is the only limit on what objects can be made by Hermes team of craftsmen. If you can think it, they can make it - however outlandish or impractical. No item is considered too humble or insignificant to be spared the Hermes touch. There was a crash helmet covered in fur. A leather and ruched velvet saddle. Although they looked fabulous I wondered what practical use they could actually be put to. But then to think in terms of practicality in this exhibition is to miss the point.

 Chess set in an upturned chair

 

Bottled leather "fruit" purses

 

Digital technology and luxury items

Graffiti and neon lighting 

 Elephant in a china shop

 That fur covered helmet

 



 Beautifully crafted leather petrol canister

 That amazing leather/velvet saddle

 

Crystal goblet chandelier which rotated and cast beautiful shadows
 

I don't think I will visit a better designed or imaginatively displayed exhibition this year. Set designer Hubert le Gall and his team of designers have done a marvellous job. It was a great experience to feel that child-like sense of wonder again. See more here.

Hermes Wanderland
until 2nd May
Saatchi Gallery
Duke of York's HQ
King's Road
London
SW3
www.saatchigallery.com