Latest News
In this section we aim to bring you quarterly news of upcoming events, press articles, commissions and also some of Chris Gollon's thoughts on his work and where it leads him artistically.
‘THE DOG 5,000 Years of The Dog in Art’ by Tamsin Pickeral
'The Dog 5,000 Years of the Dog in Art' by Tamsin Pickeral
Merrell Publishing (New York & London) has just published a major art-historical tome entitled ‘THE DOG 5,000 Years of The Dog in Art’ by Tamsin Pickeral with exquisite reproductions and an excellent and insightful text. The author Tamsin Pickeral chose Chris Gollon’s ‘Anubis & Charon’ (1997), devoting a page to the Gollon painting in the chapter entitled The Mythical Dog to feature alongside works by Breughel, Rembrandt, Titian, Velasquez, Oudry, Gainsborough, Reynolds and Rubens. She writes very intelligently and insightfully about Chris Gollon’s work and this particular painting. This beautifully-produced hardback book has some wonderful images and fascinating text about Man's ever-changing view of the dog, from one of Man's earliest beliefs in the dog as deity or psychopomp (conductor of souls), dwelling both in the physical and supernatural worlds, to a whole spectrum of belief across many cultures depicting the dog as deity or devil, noble or bestial, adored or abhorred. As the author says: "In many ways, the emergence of the dog in art, from its first marginal depictions to its increasingly central role, particularly in paintings, mirrors the dog's creeping steps over the threshold of human society. Conversely, the prevalence of the dog's appearance in art through the ages has left a vivid account of its place, and role, in human history." It is available in all good bookshops and via Amazon.
Developing a new visual language in the form of the human figure
Venus 2008, Being Human
Chris Gollon is currently developing a very unique and stylized anatomy in these latest figures, using a degree of abstraction, yet retaining an element of the representational. Although they are not rigid, Gollon imbues these figures with a quasi-sculptural 'essence' of humankind. This technique is helping him develop a way of using figures to describe or hold ideas. This visual language, if developed now, he hopes will help him next year to create images and human figures capable of describing the various facets of 'Being Human in the 21st Century', the theme of the international research Fellowship at the Institute of Advanced Study, University of Durham. Some of these 'Being Human' paintings are currently on exhibition at IAP Fine Art, (see Exhibitions page).
As Chris Gollon notes: “For this second show on the theme of Being Human, I am developing my painting style further, and in a new direction, to search for the means to paint the Fellowship’s specific subject matter. For the paintings in this exhibition, I started looking at how some gods, which humans have needed, do survive when civilizations change; yet some, like Venus, do not make it through. The series of paintings of a modern Venus show a faceless, out-moded god; yet she still retains a powerful presence, almost like a human with supernatural powers.” Chris Gollon (autumn 2008)
“This will be a last show of Chris Gollon’s new work in our gallery, before he takes up his Fellowship. Since he finished two major public commissions earlier this year, I am amazed at the creative energy Chris has shown by pushing on again, by developing such a striking new style of painting anatomy, almost a new way of seeing the human figure, or making it hold an idea.” David Tregunna, Director, IAP Fine Art (autumn 2008)
Book on Chris Gollon's Stations of the Cross by Sara Maitland
Award-winning novelist Sara Maitland is now writing a book of meditations inspired by Chris Gollon's Stations of the Cross
Stations of the Cross (V): Simon the Cyrenean Helps Jesus'
Her publisher, Continuum Books, (New York & London) will publish a book of her meditations on Gollon's Stations in early 2008, in which all 14 Stations will be reproduced.
The Good Friday service is at 10am on 10th April 2009. See Stations of the Cross on the Commissions page for further details, or the Exhibitions page.
If you would like to be informed when this new book is published, please contact us with your email address.
Being Human
Fellowship & Residency, Institute of Advanced Study, Durham University
The Trial
Following a very well-received exhibition at the Institute of Advanced Study, University of Durham, in November 2007, the IAS has offered Chris Gollon a Fellowship. This will be taken up January - March 2009. The IAS is based in the Georgian, grade-one listed Cosin's Hall, Palace Green, (adjacent to Durham Cathedral).
The IAS will convert one of the academic rooms temporarily into a studio. The Institute has invited a small number of leading scientists, social scientists, professors of humanities and British artist Chris Gollon to look at what it is to be human in the 21st century. Subsections to this theme will include 'Home', 'Mind-Conciousness', 'Crises of Personhood' and 'Abjection, Bare Life & De-humanization'. Chris will produce 15 paintings during the Fellowship, which will be exhibited in spring 2009 at the IAS, and then tour.
Impressed by Gollon's innovations both in technique and in his image-making, as he describes the human condition in a unique way, the IAS see his studio as a place of experimentation akin to a scientific laboratory. Chris Gollon is looking forward to his sojourn at Durham, and to the interaction and conversations with leading figures from other disciplines.
For more information on the theme 'Being Human' or on the IAS, visit: Institute of Advanced Study.
See also 'Early Thoughts' on the Exhibitions page.
Art & Soul charity auction
Jane
This painting has been donated by Chris Gollon to the charity auction 'Art & Soul', which will raise money for a children's hospice. Other artists donating include Maggi Hambling, Damien Hirst and Anthony Gormley. The auction will take place at the Hotel Du Vin, Tunbridge Wells.
To find out more about the auction, or to procure an auction catalogue, or to find out more about this excellent facility, click: Demelza House Children's Hospice and scroll down the events to Art & Soul.
Two New Films
The Basement Tapes: monotype01
Two new films are now available to view on the processes involved in Chris Gollon's printmaking. To go behind the scenes and view Chris Gollon making monotypes from the recent Basement Tapes series, click Making of Monotypes.
Henley Regatta silk-screen (III)
To see Chris Gollon working with master printmakers Ian & Jan Wilkinson at the Goldmark Atelier, click: Henley Royal Regatta silk-screen print studies.
To read more on Chris Gollon and Printmaking, please see A Reflection on Printmaking.
Stations of the Cross to be installed by Good Friday 2009
Stations of the Cross (X): Jesus Is Stripped Of His Garments
The Good Friday service is at 10am on 10th April 2009. See Commissions page for further details, or the Exhibitions page.
Station to Station
An 8-minute documentary film has been made by ON TO IT Productions about the origin and making of Chris Gollon's commission to paint 14 Stations of the Cross for the Church of St John on Bethnal Green. it also features previous TV news footage, and gives an insight into Gollon's race against the clock, as he attempted to finish the Stations before Good Friday 2008 and also to complete the Museum commission to paint the Henely Royal Regatta. Click Station to Station to view.
KALEIDOMORPHISM
Chris Gollon began a collaborative work with JABOD (film makers Karl Roberts & Kim Scott) entitled ‘Quintych’. This began a creative journey to the point where a new art form may have been created, and which we have entitled: Kaleidomorphism. Moving like a magic lantern or a kaleidoscope, and split into five separately moving sections on a single screen, fifteen years of Chris Gollon’s paintings move toward us and recede at differing speeds, set to very affecting music by Paolo Conte, Calexico and Tom Waits (the latter with Gavin Bryars). This cinematic art work/short film will shortly be shown at film festivals in UK and abroad.
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