National velvet, Slow Action, From Here To Eternity, literary Journey, Mock Tudor, Burlington Fine Arts Club, Shooting The Breeze, And Scent Of Pine And The Woodthrush Singing, Joffe et Pye, Treasure, Causality, Sluice

Just a few of the exhibitions I have enjoyed, and bloged about, during 2011.

Pairs of paintings: Over on The Reside Residency I have been posting paintings, in pairs and about escape. Usually that of a lovers escape from a tricky situation or perhaps a claustrophobic real life, some have a more sinister obsessive feel. These circular paintings are based on short stories, novels and film. I shall gather them all together soon and make a home for them here too.

The Reside Residency is a self funded and self directed online project the deadline for proposals to be the next Reside artist is Monday January 26th 2012. Read more about Reside here and how to apply here.

Paintings: Robert & Jesse, What if I drink your blood?, Oliver & Constance, Reggie & Viv, 2011, from ‘The Hidden Island’ series initiated on The Reside Residency, oil on post card, 8.5cm

Click on the image to enlarge

*************************************Merry Christmas chaps***************************************

1 December 2011 – 7 January 2012
Vegas
London
E2

Love’s fragility and unpredictability leads to numerous unanswered questions, unresolved issues and unbearable sadness. After all, to lose love is the greatest loss for which there is no consolation. What does one experience when a relationship ends? (Vegas)

This exhibition explores key elements of the human condition during and after the break-up. Facing and living through the ending of a relationship is one of the most powerful experiences, and the pain of the loss of love, of that ‘death’ is one of the most intense and severe pains one is to suffer. Comprehending the complexity of the break-up is too difficult and unbearable for a tormented broken heart however one always seeks to understand it and to mourn it in order to finally accept it, release it and move on. Ultimately, artworks chosen for ‘I Wish You Well’ identify the notions of one’s experience and one’s emotional state during the stage of the last ‘good-bye’.(Vegas)

Sad inevitability?: Told in pictures words and sound, these are the remnants of relationships, the unsaid parts, sad parts and questions shouted into open spaces. There are no answers in return. But leave Michael Tamman & Richard Jakes film (inspired by a page of Sarah Kane’s Play ‘Crave’) until last, a conversation between two hearts that, although full of miscommunication and confusion offers up a heart felt, bitter sweet connection.

Artists: Bas Jan Ader, Simon English, Geraldine Gliubislavich, Hayden Kays, Emma Talbot, Michael Tamman & Richard Jakes, Jeanine Woollard.
Curated by Anny Baranova

More pictures from I Wish You Well can be found on my Flickr here.

16 November 2011 – 14 January 2012
Paul McCarthy
Hauser & Wirth
Piccadilly, Saville Row & St James Sq
London

‘Pig Island’, on view at Savile Row, is a morally deviant world populated by pirates, cowboys, the likenesses of George W. Bush and Angelina Jolie, an assortment of Disney characters and the artist himself, all carousing in a state of wild and reckless abandon. The island is constructed from blocks of polystyrene piled high with wood, cast body parts, clay, spray paint and old fast food containers surrounded by a sea of blue carpeting.(H&W)

‘The King’ presides over the main space of the Piccadilly gallery. This new monumental installation consists of a platform surrounded by large-scale airbrush paintings that were created on the easel that stands on the platform. Atop the platform is a throne upon which a silicone model of McCarthy sits stark naked with partly severed limbs, closed eyes and wearing a long blonde wig. Church pews arranged in front of the stage give the viewer a place to sit and contemplate the artist’s elevated status as they gaze up at his wooden throne.(H&W)

Saville Row: Smacking and mechanically squealing, the noise is a constant grinding. On display and proudly fucking male forms with giant heads turn, on occasion in unison, following me around the room (an illusion?, I hope not). There is an escape for the ears but not the eyes. Debauched and slick, entangled bodies have a room in which to sink to new depths, cushioned by all manner of stuff. Their maker downed tools but it seems that they will continue to multiply.

Piccadilly: In the basement, among the old safes with doors left ajar is a film, walk in half way through, that’s the ticket. On a table in a dark, cavernous room, a realistic looking male figure is being man handled, roughly, while a chain saw slices between buttocks and at the joints pulling and ripping. The physical exertion on the man handlers is evident as they attempt to manipulate the body from stiff human shaped material into one with bending parts…..

Second viewing advisable.

“its somewhere we could go….”

He Suggested it to Marie in The Drummer Boy. He led her up to it slowly, describing the interior of The Great Western Royal Hotel and how he had wandered about in it because he hadn’t wanted to go home. “Actually,” he said, “I ended up in the bathroom”

Lovers Of Their Time by William Trevor

My time at The Reside Residency is coming to an end. It has been useful, liberating and fun. With only two months left I will be posting more than usual on the Reside blog and try to tie up a few lose ends while starting some new work too. If you think an online residency might suite you have a look at the application details. The deadline to submit your proposal to be the next Reside artist is 23rd January 2012. Have a scroll back through my posts, Karl’s posts and the aim of the Residency….

Paintings: Norman & Marie 2011, oil on post card, 8.5cm