Two exhibitions which explore the relationship between two british artist. Both are Northumberland artists, who have made contributions to British abstract painting. The sustained development of their work over two distinct periods of time in the last forty years is celebrated in these two major show.
BALTIC presents two exhibitions which explore the relationship between the work of James
Hugonin and Ian Stephenson. Both are Northumberland artists, who have made significant
contributions to British abstract painting. The sustained development of their work over two
distinct periods of time in the last forty years is celebrated in these two major exhibitions.
James Hugonin is the curator of the exhibition and has selected works by Ian Stephenson from
1967-72, at a point when his work was hugely influential to a generation of young artists at the
beginning of their careers. The two artists first met when Hugonin joined the MA Course at
Chelsea School of Art in 1974, of which Stephenson was Course Leader; they remained
colleagues and friends for the following twenty-six years.
In the paintings of Hugonin and Stephenson both artists use techniques invloving the
application of small regular marks of individual colour. Hugonin works with large rectangles
containing thousands of coloured marks, painting in elliptical and oval forms that oscillate and
fluctuate in different colours within a very fine linear grid. Reflected light pulsating from
adjacent colours creates an indeterminate and unpredictable colour field emanating light.
Stephenson’s paintings are formed through layer upon layer of dots creating a stippled surface
characteristically made by drops of paint falling onto canvas or paper.
James Hugonin was born in 1950, and has lived and worked in Northumberland throughout
most of his professional career as a painter. Ian Stephenson was born in County Durham in
1934 and was educated in Northumberland and Newcastle upon Tyne. He lived and worked in
London and at his studio in North Northumberland until his death in 2000.
And our eyes scan Time is produced in association with De La Warr Pavilion and curated by
James Hugonin.
Inaugurazione: Sabato 8 Aprile 2006
Baltic Centre
South Shore Road - Gateshead
Opening hours: Mon, Tues, Wed, Fri, Sat, Sun 10.00 - 18.00, Thurs 10.00 - 20.00