Catherine McClelland - Sutton PR
28 recent (and many previously unseen) works including large scale paintings, sculptures and works on paper, drawn together from private collections around the world.
From 15 February 2013, Manchester Art Gallery will present Raqib Shaw’s
largest solo exhibition to date. This major exhibition will feature 28 recent
(and many previously unseen) works by the artist including large scale
paintings, sculptures and works on paper, drawn together from private
collections around the world.
Thanks to the extraordinary generosity of the artist, Manchester Art Gallery
will be transformed with flower installations. Inspired by Shaw’s passion for
flowers and plants, his studio will create sculptural interventions of willow
and driftwood planted with spring bulbs and the exterior of the gallery will
appear to be in bloom for the duration of the show. As part of Shaw’s gift to
the city, an exhibition launch party, La Nuit d’Amour, takes place on
Valentine’s night, Thursday 14 February from 6-9pm.
Shaw is creating a major new painting for this exhibition, in response to
George Stubbs’ Cheetah and Stag with Two Indians, one of the most popular
works in the gallery’s collection. This stunning yet provocative work will be
displayed alongside Stubbs’ original painting in the 18th century collection
gallery.
Other major works on display will include Adam, a painted bronze overlaid
with black diamonds, sapphires and rubies. The show will also feature a
selection from Shaw’s recent series Of Beasts and Super-Beasts, first shown
in Paris in 2012. These glitter and rhinestone encrusted acrylic works on
paper feature incredibly detailed creatures and still lives drawn from the
artist’s imagination and highlight Shaw’s passion for drawing.
Raqib Shaw is an Indian-born, London-based artist who shot to fame in the
international art world at the age of just 33. His opulent paintings and
sculptures evoke the work of Old Masters such as Holbein and Bosch in their
treatment of often unsettling subjects. But they also reflect the ornate style
of Persian miniatures and Kashmiri and Japanese textiles. Beneath their
beautiful jewel-like surface is a collection of dark and violent images inspired
by ancient myths and religious tales from both East and Western tradition.
The exhibition is collaboration between Manchester Art Gallery and
Rudolfinum Prague. There will be a full colour publication to accompany the
exhibition with an essay by Professor David Lomas.
Raqib Shaw
Raqib Shaw was born in Calcutta and lived in Kashmir for many years. He
studied for both his BA and MA at Central St Martins School of Art. He shot
to fame at the young age of 33, when his painting Garden of Earthly Delights
III was exhibited in a group exhibition, Without Boundaries, at The Museum
of Modern Art, New York. Major solo exhibitions include Museum of
Contemporary Art, Miami (2006), ‘Art Now’, Tate Britain, London (2006), The
Metropolitan Museum, New York (2008), White Cube Hoxton (2009)
Kunsthalle Wien (2009), White Cube Mason's Yard (2011) and Galerie
Thaddaeus Ropac, Paris (2012). Shaw has also exhibited in group exhibitions
including ‘Without Boundary’, MoMA New York (2006), ‘Around the world in
Eighty Days’, ICA London (2006), ‘6th Gwangju Biennale’, South Korea (2006)
and 17th Biennale of Sydney (2010). Shaw is also included in the 7th Asia
Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art (2012) and the Manchester Art Gallery
exhibition will tour on to the Rudolfinum in Prague opening 6 June until 15
October 2013.
Manchester Art Gallery
Manchester Art Gallery is one of the Northwest's most popular cultural
venues. Located in the heart of the city, it hosts a world-renowned collection
of fine and decorative art and in addition to outstanding collection displays,
delivers an ambitious program of temporary exhibitions that bring world-
class historic, modern and contemporary art to the city.
For press enquiries please contact Catherine McClelland or Anna Jones at
Sutton PR on + 44 (0)20 7183 3577
Opening: 14 February 2013
4:45 - 6pm: Sir Norman Rosenthal will talk about Raqib Shaw's work and
introduce a short programme of music and dance to start the evening's
celebrations
6:00 - 8:00pm: Celebratory party and preview of the exhibition
8:15 - 10:00pm: Indian buffet served in the Manchester Art Gallery
restaurant
Manchester Art Gallery
Mosley Street, Manchester
Hours: Open daily, 10am - 5pm and Thursdays 10am- 9pm.
Free entry