Naum Gabo at Tate St Ives 2020
Naum Gabo at Tate St Ives 2020
The Naum Gabo exhibit at Tate St Ives started in March this year and has been extended to run until this September. I went along in early March and here are my takeaway impressions and some photos of what you might expect if you have a chance to visit.
We are so lucky in Cornwall not just to have an amazing local wealth of creative and artistic talent locally, and an immense history of modern art in the area, but also to have facilities like Tate St Ives to visit ‘on a rainy day’, to stretch the mind, educate and inform us without even leaving the Duchy (County to you and me!).
When the Naum Gabo exhibition in St Ives started in early spring I went along with my (slightly short attention span and tantruming throughout the exhibit) son to take it in.
My visit was, as such, quite short and so will be the information in this blog as a result, but short turned out to be very sweet. I found this was an exhibition I could go to see, learn and enjoy immensely, because the work here is very fast to comprehend and enjoy. Even if you look at it in amazement for the sculptural skill, visual impact, mathematical precision and calculations, or, as I did, the complete surprise surrounding the manufacturing techniques available in the era, you can be impressed by the forethought and modernity of it that still makes it feel futuristic and timeless today.
His work combined geometric abstraction with a dynamic organization of form in small reliefs and constructions, monumental public sculpture and pioneering kinetic works that assimilated new materials such as nylon, wire, lucite and semi-transparent materials, glass and metal.
Two preoccupations, unique to Gabo, were his interest in representing negative space—”released from any closed volume” or mass—and time. He famously explored the former idea in his Linear Construction works (1942-1971)—used nylon filament to create voids or interior spaces as “concrete” as the elements of solid mass
Source: Tate/ Wikipedia
What I enjoyed about Naum Gabo: Constructions for Real Life.
The first extensive presentation of Naum Gabo’s sculptures, paintings, drawings and architectural designs to be held in the UK for over 30 years
Tate St Ives
I didn’t know that Naum Gabo had lived in Carbis Bay during WWII and been considered one of the St Ives Artists. This felt great to me as it drew a link for me between the location in which I now live. I have a pull towards the geometric visual style in my paintings, and the relationship of the three dimensionality in this sculptural work that resonates with the three dimensional direction I am currently taking in my own work. I could feel a connection with the sculptures and plans. I can feel the organic
I made a mental note to myself to look up: Hyperbolic parabaloid, tensegrity structure and history plastic manufacturing (although these days I’m researching more into plastics re-use)… and you might add to that Constructivism (and give that to your child to do as homework for the school holidays!).
I couldn’t believe how well some of the pieces have survived – the geometric acrylic sheet sculptures that have remained in immaculate condition are nearly 100 years old. You could be mistaken for thinking they were made in the 1970s, influenced by Star Wars or some other space odyssey, but in fact perhaps the reverse is true, perhaps films and architecture drew on the work of Naum Gabo as the innovator.
The precision of the hyperbolic paraboloids, the mathematical calculations that went into them and the precise execution of the pieces. The hyperbolic paraboloids make for beautiful sculptures which are perfectly hand tensioned, each string or wire having the same degree of tension.
For me this is a stunning exhibition, beautifully presented, amazingly well preserved and extremely educational and inspirational. If a 3 year old can lie on the floor having a tantrum because they don’t want to leave, that’s a good sign for taking older kids or the rest of your family along.
POP TO THE SHOP!
Christmas baubles now on sale!
Discover my range of artist edition baubles now on sale in my shop!
To mark Christmas 2019 I’ve launched a range of individually painted artist edition baubles. There are 50 individual hand painted baubles numbered and initialled from 1-50.
Here’s a sample of some of them
Brighten things up this year and add a little pop of colour to your Christmas tree with a unique piece of art. Create a neon and pastel theme or add a hint of bright, white and fresh colour and make your tree a colourful and contemporary work of art.
The first batch is now online! Each one is ceramic painted with artists acrylic paint in a range of fluorescent and pastel tones, transparencies and opaque panels to mirror my latest works.
The Christmas baubles are tied with neon yellow elastic cord and packaged in a white gift box.
Delivered in time to give as a Christmas present or to decorate your own Christmas tree.
POP TO THE SHOP!
Commissioning an artist
You might be asking “How do I commission an artist? I don’t know where to find one, What should I expect? How do I start?”
I’ve been undertaking commissions over 21 years, for me as the artist, it’s been simple, I chat to my client, we discuss what they like and I build a picture of what the painting is in my head that is what they want. But that’s not the scenario for the recipient as they just don’t know what they are going to get.
I don’t know where to start
Don’t worry, I do
So you might be asking the same question ‘can you do something for me? What’s it going to look like?’
There are so many ways of going about briefing an artist, or of carrying out a process for a commission. I’ve done them a few different ways:
- the client asks for something that looks like something I have already painted and we chat about that and it either sets the brief immediately – style, colours, size OR it leads into new territory for something a bit (or completely!) different
- I go to the house/ business/ location and we measure up, look at what’s already in the space (furnishings, furniture, light, space, materials and colours of objects in the room)
- I take an existing painting around to a space to see how it works in the space, we talk about the colours/ space/ visual style and elements of the painting.
Trustin the process
Be brave
There is a degree of trust and faith you need in order to take a risk. You aren’t in a shop looking at something that has already been completed and imagingin how it will look above your sofa or reception desk. You have to know and understand that the artist you’re working with has a strong sense of visual awareness and sensitivity both to you, your environment and the outcome you’re looking for.
Take a chance
This is the time to be adventurous. If you brief the painting to be safe, that’s what you will get. If something that is in the artist’s portfolio really appeals and is unique, stands out and is stronger than the rest of their work then that is the upper point of risk you might take. The more you talk the better the outcome. If you say ‘ I like that but that one is a bit adventurous, I feel like I should have this [safe] one over here, can we meet in the middle?
Perhaps you like adventurous, perhaps you need reigning in? Maybe the bold colours need to be brought into line with your interior so that they don’t clash.
There are so many variables.
You can be guided.
You can set the boundaries
You can choose the size
You can choose from a portfolio
You can guide the colour choice (if you need or wish to)
Or you can trust in the artist to create something with you in mind that is their vision.
You can commission something that you choose to have no input into
Their vision of you, or their vision of what you like. Or you can ask them simply to do something for the space that is completely of their own, that you will love, because the thing that drew you to them for a commission is an intrinsic part of what they do. You can work with their intuition and natural style. That way the piece you commission just might be the wonderful piece that makes the art collectable, valuable and unique and worth the most to you, to them and to the art world (if future investment is the thing you are after).
How would you choose to run your commission? You have the power to both choose the artist you want to work with and the power to decide if the choices I have outlined above are available from the artist you choose.
My process forcommissions
How I take commissions
Here’s a sample of one of the ways in which I do commissions, hopefully you’ll find it a calm and reassuring process, there are some formalities but I try to keep it lightweight because that’s more enjoyable for both of us.
A bespoke commission for an abstract painting in the style of my current body of work (geometric abstracts)
You will enjoy the experience of commissioning a qualified artist to create a site-specific painting in collaboration with the artist. I have been creating commissions over 21 years.
I’ll come to your site and chat about the possibilities for creating something that works specifically within that space and which can be seen as an extension of your personality or business through that environment. You might wish to come to my art studio or storage facility to view more paintings and discuss them more deeply.
I will then send you a quote and a short contract to sign to commence work, I will also ask for a deposit to be used against materials (but the full payment is upon delivery).
We might discuss points in the quote or the brief further at this point to check that what was discussed and put onto paper is still on track.
If it’s an installation, or something more three dimensional, we might draw up some visual plans or light sketches to illustrate the mechanics of the piece, but you will be aware that the way that I work is an evolution with the painting itself and this is not controlled and contained planning as such (like for a design) it’s a piece of art that has a conversation with the piece itself.
It is unlikely that I will show you the painting prior to delivery unless there are any queries.
Your painting will be created and delivered within an agreed time frame (usually 6 weeks dependant on time of year/ drying times).
I will give guidance on hanging the work but will not install the painting unless it’s painted direct-to-wall.
After delivery, I will ask to take photos and I might ask for you to send me photos after installation, or for a recommendation or social media sharing. I’ll ask you for permisison to share any photographs of your interiors or profile.
What I will create for you
You will commisison me to create:
- A fine art painting on bespoke artists gallery canvas from Harris Moore or another professional canvas supplier, of your designated size (ply or acrylic on request) or an installation painting.
- A specific piece of art that enhances and creates a feeling within your environment
- A site visit to your chosen location for the piece
- The experience of having a piece of fine art created that will be specifically for you
- All materials
- Ownership of the final piece (creative license remains with the artist)
- Installation of painting direct to walls OR delivery to location*
Who commissions work best for
This works best if you are:
- Open to enjoying the process
- Willing to place your faith in the artist to create something in their house style that has you and your space in mind
- Have a sense of adventure and ambition about your project and its place in the artist’s body of work
- Happy to work to the artist’s contract of sale
Neon linings
Back to school! Not the kind of BTS post that everyone else is sharing at the moment though!
I’m very excited to say that today I picked up the keys to my new studio space @krowji_ in Redruth. After putting my back catalogue paintings into storage, my artistic move to Cornwall is complete.
This is a new phase for my art career in Cornwall. The Krowji is a redeveloped Grammar school and home to around 200 other artists and creatives, I can’t wait to meet all the other tenants, see their work and businesses and get restarted.
Every cloud has
a neon lining
So here’s to the neon lining on that cloud that’s emerged after saying goodbye to @twoqueensstudio 🥂
Watch this space!
