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13/7/2006

Derek Hirst

Flowers East, London

Selected Works

Flowers East is proud to present a major retrospective of work by the British artist Derek Hirst, who died this May. Hirst was one of the first artists to show with Angela Flowers Gallery in 1970, and this display from his works represents the highlights and achievements of a long, prolific and brilliant career.

An array of subjects, materials and styles makes up the diverse world of Derek Hirst, yet all are bound together by abiding themes. Hirst explored the physical aspects of the Place, evoking magical responses which live on the borders between the figurative and the abstract. Hirst drew freely from the different places where he had lived or visited, most notably Sidlesham in West Sussex (his last home), Japan, and Spain.

He made his first journey to Catalonia in 1953, having graduated from the Royal College of Art two years before. This was the start of a life-long, passionate relationship with Spain and its culture. The rich colours and heavy texture used in works such as Catalan Landscape: I (Palafrugell) not only represent the physical surroundings, but also Hirst’s own psychological experience.

Throughout the ‘60s and ‘70s, Hirst drew upon distinctly Spanish architectural features, in particular the door and the arch, as used in ‘Alhambra’ (shown above). During these years Hirst also produced a highly acclaimed series of ‘armchair paintings’, based on discarded chairs found when visiting his hometown of Doncaster. ‘Second Visit’, a work from this series, will featured at Tate Britain as a memorial to the artist on his death, from 5 - 19 June.

Hirst often returned to the subject of the ‘gold door’, or ‘Puerto De Oro’, derived from the great mosque in Cordoba. Like many of his paintings, the gold doors have a strong sculptural presence. After moving to Sussex, he began to incorporate material gleaned from the environment, such as stones, shells and reeds. Essentially Hirst’s works were wrested with profound insight from his own experiences.

Hirst’s life was overshadowed by illness which involved many desperate bouts of surgery, chemotherapy and anxiety. There is no greater evidence of his great fortitude than the vitality and exuberance of the last paintings. These return to the hot white walls and bright colours of his beloved Catalonia, which he knew he would never see again. We are fortunate that the works remain as a moving testimony to this extraordinary artist.

A new monograph on Derek Hirst, compiled by Robert Heller, will be launched at the private view. For further information please contact the gallery.

The next exhibition at Flowers East is ‘the living is easy; international contemporary photography’, running from 11 August until 10 September 2006.

Private view Tuesday 18th July 2006 6 - 8pm

Flowers East
82 Kingsland Road - London
Opening Times: Tuesday to Saturday 10am until 6pm, Sunday 11am until 5pm

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