Richard Walker
Peace and Noise
New Paintings and Prints
27 September - 21 October 2006
Private View 26 September 6-8pm
Artist's talk Wed 4 October 6.30-8.30pm
'Peace and Noise' is an exhibition of new work by Richard Walker, which quite unexpectedly fuses two themes he has explored in the past: landscape and terrorism.
"The images of New York on 9/11 were particularly shocking to me, given my longstanding association with the city and knowledge of its districts, not least the streets round the World Trade Center. They spurred me to produce work on a 9/11 theme in 2002 - whilst in my next exhibition in 2004 I explored quieter, but still elegiac English themes. The events of 7 July 2005 in London propelled themselves into my life - and my work, literally, as my studio is in Tavistock Square where the number 30 bus exploded. This happened right across from my window; I heard the blast and witnessed the scene and its aftermath.
I have always loved the trees in London, especially the mature ones in the parks, squares and gardens. My studio windows overlook a mass of leafy green. After the bombings the whole of the square and surrounding streets became a cordoned-off zone with police guarding the edges. There was an eerie silence for 10 days: no cars, no people, no birds - just forensic teams doing their grim work. All the grass and trees were covered in bright blue tarpaulin sheets and little flags were placed where they had found human remains.
This is the basis of the new paintings: a tranquil park at the height of summer devastated by senseless violence. These are images of anger and anxiety but also reflection and silence. A recurring motif is the figure of Gandhi, whose statue stands in the middle of Tavistock Square - an ironic but irenic figure stranded in a shredded landscape of carnage and despair.
Now one year on, the square is again full of sunbathers, oblivious to all the sadness and horror that I had seen from my studio.
Thank you to Patti Smith for the inspiration and relevance of her album title 'Peace and Noise' "
Richard Walker, August 2006
Richard Walker will be exhibiting 'Peace and Noise' in the Main Gallery and in the Upper Gallery will be 'Everywhere & Nowhere, Baby', a contrasting show of paintings and prints produced during the same period.
Image: Richard Walker. The Sound of Silence (detail), mixed media on canvas 2006, 92 x 92cm
If you would like further images of Richard Walkers's work, please contact Natalie Suggitt
at the Curwen and New Academy Gallery on tel: 0207 323 4700 or e-mail: Natalie@curwengallery.com
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BUSINESS ART GALLERIES
Curwen & New Academy Gallery, 34 Windmill Street, London. W1T 2JR
Open Mon-Fri 10-6 (Thurs 10-8) Sat 11-5. T:020-7323 4700 / F: 020-7436 3059
visit www.curwengallery.com for more info.
Current Exhibitions: 31 August - 23 September
TIM VYNER - Street Life
also BRENDA HARTILL & SOPHIA RIZVI
CLICK FOR MORE
http://www.curwengallery.com/gallery/gallery.htm
Curwen & New Academy is an established gallery showing mainly British
contemporary art.
Exhibitions change regularly, with work by a wide range of artists, including prints,
paintings and sculpture.
Business Art Galleries provides art for businesses. A full corporate service and a hire
scheme is available.
BUSINESS ART GALLERIES
Curwen & New Academy Gallery, 34 Windmill Street, London. W1T 2JR
Open Mon-Fri 10-6 (Thurs 10-8) Sat 11-5. T:020-7323 4700 / F: 020-7436 3059
visit www.curwengallery.com for more info.
Current Exhibitions: 31 August - 23 September
TIM VYNER - Street Life
also BRENDA HARTILL & SOPHIA RIZVI
CLICK FOR MORE
http://www.curwengallery.com/gallery/gallery.htm
Curwen & New Academy is an established gallery showing mainly British
contemporary art.
Exhibitions change regularly, with work by a wide range of artists, including prints,
paintings and sculpture.
Business Art Galleries provides art for businesses. A full corporate service and a hire
scheme is available.