40 Years of the Future: Painting at Castlefield Gallery
Maja Lorkowska, Exhibitions Editor
Castlefield Gallery begins its 40 Years of the Future anniversary celebrations with 40 Years of the Future: Painting. The exhibition brings together large abstract paintings that were actually shown, or are representative of the kind of work that was shown at the gallery in its first year of programming along with more recent, contemporary pieces.
This look to the past highlights the artists who have a long history with the organisation and explores the way that painting has changed over the years, creating a dialogue between the works.
Sarah Feinmann, Tricia Gillman, John Hoyland, and Gary Wragg return to the gallery to display their work alongside North West-based artists on Castlefield’s list of ‘ones to watch’: Jamie Kirk, Robin Megannity, Azraa Motala and Katie Tomlinson.
Abstraction meets figuration in this exciting survey of painting and the different approaches to the medium and its possibilities over the last few decades. The exhibition is also an interesting debate in the role of both styles – is one ever superior to the other? The tastes and preferences of audiences shift and change so there is never a singular answer but the audience can ponder these questions as they take in the display.
Robin Megannity’s works on paper and canvas are reminiscent of the classical painting tradition, with portraits and still lives in atmospheric darkness yet vividly colourful. They stand in stark contrast to the large-scale abstract painting Harvest 6.3.81 (1981) by John Hoyland, yet despite the obvious differences in subject matter, both share the vibrance and luminosity achieved by a deep understanding of colour. Similarly, Katie Tomlinson’s bold hues are combined with striking mark-making allowing for figuration and abstraction to meet.
Other pieces in 40 Years of the Future: Painting incorporate elements of nature photography, digital imagery, laser cut shapes and diaristic elements. Varied in subject matter, they each bring different messages and motifs but together form a compact survey of painting over the last 40 years.
