H_A_R_D_P_A_I_N_T_I_N_G_x2 at Phoenix Art Space Brighton. UK. Left: Part 1 Right: Part 2 Photographs courtesy of Bernard G Mills
Curated by: Ian Boutell, Philip Cole, Stig Evans, Della Gooden and Patrick O’Donnell at Phoenix Art Space, Brighton. UK
An exhibition in two parts featuring work by:
Part 1: Richard Bell, Katrina Blannin, John Carter, Catherine Ferguson, Della Gooden, Richard Graville, Morrissey & Hancock, Tess Jaray, Jo McGonigal, Lars Wolter and Jessie Yates
Part 2: Rana Begum, Ian Boutell, Philip Cole, Biggs & Collings, Deb Covell, Stig Evans, Jane Harris, Mali Morris, Jost Münster, Patrick O’Donnell, Carol Robertson and Daniel Sturgis
‘The more materialist painting is, the better.’
Matthew Collings 2019
‘Aware of the intractability of matter, materialist thought promotes a respect for the otherness and integrity of the world, in contrast to the postmodern narcissism that sees nothing but reflections of human culture wherever it looks.’
Terry Eagleton 2016 (1)
This exhibition is in its second incarnation. The first in 2018 was curated by Ian, Philip, Stig and Patrick. They were joined by Della Gooden to present H_A_R_D_P_A_I_N_T_I_N_G_x2
The title of this exhibition does not dictate an aesthetic, nor does it mean to imply a preference for one process or system of making work over another. It instead concerns itself with the elusive and critical nature of Contemporary Painting today; the complexities, the overlooked simplicities and the ‘wonder’ it can engender.
Painting has a dynamic heritage. It has been defined, redefined, declared dead, proclaimed reborn and designated with ‘isms’ left right and centre. It seems that the ongoing mission to corral Painting into something we can make statements of fact about, is to do nothing more than lay bare its inherently fugitive nature.
Can any conclusions be drawn? That there is something vital about it and worth fighting over is proven, but there are far more questions than answers. How can the simple act of placing a coloured substance onto a fixed, unmoving surface create such intrigue where none existed before?
The Curators
(1) Eagleton, T. (2016 ‘Materialism’ Yale University Press NewHaven and London, p6)
Photographs from Part 1
Photographs from Part 2
