Royal Academy Summer Exhibition 2023

Delighted that ANTHROPOCENE SCENE 2 was selected for the Royal Academy of Arts - Summer Exhibition this year by @david_remfry_ra thank you.

Last year I missed varnishing day due to covid and so it was especially memorable to be able to attend this year - I heard very little however as I was sitting upstairs but very nice nevertheless

The summer exhibition is on from the 13 June - 20 August 2023 and it explores the theme ‘Only Connect’, taken from the famous quote in Howards End by E.M. Forster.

Picture Kindly taken by Perdita Sinclair who also has a wonderful piece in the show this year

H_A_R_D_P_A_I_N_T_I_N_G_ x2

Preparing for this forthcoming exhibition (in 2 parts) in Jan/Feb 2020 … oh …and christmas too … Happy Christmas readers - Philip

Please support our kickstarter campaign to raise money to help finance the H_A_R_D_P_A_I_N_T_I_N_G_ x2 exhibition and other associated events: KICKSTARTER

Please support our kickstarter campaign to raise money to help finance the H_A_R_D_P_A_I_N_T_I_N_G_ x2 exhibition and other associated events: KICKSTARTER

La Débâcle

La Débâcle was recently completed for ‘Entractes'8’ at the Eye Sees Gallery in Arles France

‘In order to prepare for Entractes8, I read W.H. Auden’s brief essay on Vincent Van Gogh’s letters. Like Auden, I was drawn to Vincent’s final letter to Theo, penned but never sent and discovered on his dying body after the tragic final suicide attempt.

During his time in Arles and whilst a resident of the yellow house, Vincent painted some of his most memorable and recognisable works. He had recently been visited by Gauguin and although their time spent together started well initially, it soon dissolved into argument and acrimony. Following the turmoil, he later wrote the now famous lines in the final letter to Theo about his paintings in which he stated:

'I tell you again that I’ll always consider that you’re something other than a simple dealer in Corots, that through my intermediacy you have your part in the very production of certain canvases, which will retain their calm even in the catastrophe.' Auvers-sur-Oise. 23 July, 1890

My débâcle collage alludes to this ‘moment’ and at its basis is the use of disrupted pattern to organise a constructivist-type dynamic. The collage presents a gridded arrangement of painted right-angled triangles posted directly onto the windows of The Eye Sees. It offers a slantwise focus on Van Gogh’s tumultuous struggle with painting and personal relationships during his time in Arles.

With its back to the gallery and facing outwards to the street, ‘La débâcle’ asks if at a time of international and environmental crisis, it might be possible for an artistic endeavour to provide a similar moment of lucidity, of relative clarity and of calm?’

It was a challenge to install as I wanted to remain true to the spirit of collage and paste each piece directly one at a time onto the doors of the gallery. Thanks to Olivier and David for their kindness forbearance and hospitality over the course of the weekend of the install.

Here’s the statement in French:

‘Afin de préparer Entractes8, j’ai lu le bref essai de W.H. Auden (poète anglais 1907-1973) sur les lettres de Vincent Van Gogh. Comme Auden, j’ai été attiré par la dernière lettre de Vincent à Théo, une lettre jamais envoyée et découverte sur son corps mourant après sa dernière et tragique tentative de suicide.

Durant son séjour à Arles et alors qu’il résidait dans la maison jaune, Vincent a peint certaines de ses œuvres les plus mémorables et les plus reconnaissables. Il venait de recevoir la visite de Gauguin et, bien que leur temps passé ensemble ait bien commencé, il a été rapidement remplacé par des disputes et des tensions. Suite à la tourmente, il écrivit plus tard les lignes désormais célèbres de la dernière lettre à Theo au sujet de ses peintures, dans lesquelles il déclarait:

"Je te le redis encore que je considérerai toujours que tu es autre chose qu'un simple marchand de Corot, que par mon intermédiaire, tu as ta part à la production même de certaines toiles, qui même dans la débâcle gardent leur calme." Auvers-sur-Oise, 23 juillet 1890

Mon collage, intitulé ‘La débâcle’ fait allusion à ce "moment". Son point de départ est un motif irrégulier qui crée une dynamique de type constructiviste. Il s’organise autour d’un arrangement quadrillé de triangles rectangles peints et collés directement sur la vitrine de The Eye Sees. Il fait référence de façon oblique à la lutte tumultueuse de Van Gogh avec la peinture et ses relations personnelles pendant son séjour à Arles.

‘La débâcle’, dos à la galerie et face à la rue, nous interroge: est-ce qu’en période de crise internationale et environnementale, un projet artistique pourrait peut-être fournir un moment similaire de lucidité, de clarté relative et de calme?’

Images: 1 & 2. Preparing some of the triangles (drying them off) 3. Contemplating the next stage 4. View from behind