Chris Humphreys
dal 23/11/2006 al 16/12/2006
Segnalato da
23/11/2006
Chris Humphreys
Transition Gallery, London
Humphreys' strangely paintings depict that misty area in which nature gets caught up between fantasy and reality. His show "Woodland Chicken World" enhances this sense of mystery with a touch of exotic orientalism to give his new paintings of common or garden birds an aristocratic grace.
Supernature Part 4. Woodland Chicken World
Chris Humphreys' strangely beautiful paintings depict that misty area
in which nature gets caught up between fantasy and reality. His first
solo show Woodland Chicken World at Transition Gallery, enhances this
sense of mystery with a touch of exotic orientalism to give his new
paintings of common or garden birds an aristocratic grace.
Influenced by Chinoiserie, a centuries-old decorative style based on
highly embellished and exaggerated Chinese design, Humphreys' sets
his birds (most particularly chickens) in an intricate, ornamental
world of paint. Chinoiserie has an element of the homemade about it
in its often misinformed imitation, giving it not only an element of
the absurd but also an attitude towards borrowing and history, which
is pertinent to Humphrey's practice.
Meanwhile Humphreys' humble chickens freed from their restrictive
pens and given a sense of elegance and dignity in their new gallery
location take on a level of art seriousness where the birds, the
paint and the decoration are all brought to the same level of
heightened reality.
As part of our Ask the Expert Series there will be a talk about the
decorative art of Chinoiserie by Gill Saunders Senior Curator of the
Word and Image Department of the V&A at Transition on Monday 11
December at 7pm. This is a free event, no booking necessary.
Chris Humphreys and Gill Saunders are both featured in the new
Garageland Magazine, which is themed around nature.
Private View: Friday 24 November 6.30 - 9pm
Transition Gallery
25a Regent Studios, 8 Andrews Road - London