Thursday 30 September 2010

PAULA REGO - WORK AT FOUNDLING MUSEUM in 2010 AND IN MADRID IN 2007

PAULA REGO WORK AT FOUNDLING MUSEUM, LONDON

I have had a kind comment from Norman about an early post - from 2007, in my blog called Pauli-artist.blogspot.com

I wrote about the Paula Rego exhibition at the Museo Reina Sofia in Madrid, and here is a link:
Blog about Paula Rego in 2007

In case anybody, including Norman,  wants to see a more recent post about Paula Rego, there is a link to my post about a visit to the Foundling Museum, in Brunswick Square, London.
It is  right at the top of this text.

Both exhibitions have now closed, but the Foundling Museum is well worth a visit, as is, of course, the Museo Reina Sofia if you are lucky enough to be in Madrid.

Wednesday 29 September 2010

NATIONAL GALLERY VISIT, LONDON IN SEPTEMBER 2010 - CARAVEGGIOS

CLAIRE FORD WILLIE GAVE A TALK ABOUT CARAVEGGIO  ON 14 SEPTEMBER

I heard an interesting talk about Caraveggio recently, at the Richmond Art Society in Richmond on Thames, Surrey. 
The lecturer, Claire Ford Willie,  talked about the chiaroscuro in his later works and the ideas she talked about stimulated me to look at my latest painting, of rugby players' legs, with a lot of darks and bright sunny patches. 
Will put up image when it is nearer completion.
I went to the National Gallery today to look again at the Caraveggios there, to refresh my mind.
It is familiar work but strong and dramatic to such an extent that the paintings are the focus in this gallery - Room 32 in the Gallery.
A very dramatic and exciting talk was going on before the painting of Supper at Emmaus, where a Japanese gentleman was giving a lengthy mini-lecture to a group of Japanese visitors.
All his group were quietly rapt in attention.  He was so animated that other people in the gallery were watching and smiling in appreciation, though obviously not understanding a word of it! 
I am sure his enthusiasm will make those Japanese tourists remember Caraveggio.
National Gallery, Supper at Emmaus painting
Outside, in the rainy afternoon, the usual groups of touritst, students and general lingerers blocked the top of the steps overlooking Trafalgar Square, gloomy and grey, except for the umbrellas.

Friday 10 September 2010

LONDON LIVES COMPETITION AT BANKSIDE FROM 9 SEPTEMBER 19 SEPTEMBER

We visited the Bankside Gallery yesterday to see the prints and paintings which are the top 100 as judged by the following people:

John Duffin, artist and printmaker, whose work was the 2009 winner and has had his work displayed on Blackfriars Bridge for 12 months

Ann Eggbert - senior lecturer in Art and Design at St Martin's (the website states 'Eggbert's practice explores the complexities of cultural identity')

Angela Parker, Director of Bankside Gallery

Councillor Veronica Ward -South Camberwell councillor,  Title:  Cabinet member for Culture, Leisure and Sport, and the Olympics

Nathan Quigley, Communications Manager, Network Rail

You can see that the list includes two artists.

I was surprised to see that one of the exhibits was obviously larger than 100cm specified,  and was hung in pride of place at the end of the hall.  I was also rather disappointed to find my work was hung in a very poor position, at the end on the left in a kind of alcove, so you could see it only if walking round a corner, but then I suppose the positive thing about it was the lighting was good.

A few of the pieces had been sold.  The winner was Akash Bhatt, who submitted a very long work called 'Life' -  mixed media on board.  His website is www.akashbhatt.com