Lowry's Travels: 18 January - 6 July 2003
This new exhibition of L S Lowry's work provides an insight into the importance different locations played within his art and should dispel the popular misconception that he did not travel beyond the industrial north west of England.
Throughout his life, L S Lowry travelled the length and breadth of the country in order to paint and draw what struck him as pictorially significant. Recurring themes include the strange, idiosyncratic building, the bleak landscape and the 'working' coastline. Those areas he especially liked usually provided some version of the qualities he prized most: "desolation and decay". If his surroundings lacked this, he turned to the passers-by, selecting strange characters to draw, such as the very descriptively titled Two Men seriously considering a matter on Penzance Promenade.
Lowry's Travels presents the visitor with surprises at every turn of the road in its journey across the UK. The artist's interest in places is sometimes fleeting, sometimes obsessional. For example, one summer in 1955, his journey to Cornwall resulted in a fascination with recording the stumps of disused tin mines. On the other hand, he returned frequently to paint shipping on the Tyne, or the towns of the South Wales valleys, illustrated in the exhibition by the Tate's Hillside in Wales - one of the highlights of the show.
Exhibition storyboards help the visitor identify the geographical location Lowry visited, often matching the scene with a photograph of the place as it looks today. They also identify the variety of companions - family, friends and fellow artists - who accompanied him on his travels. Children visiting will be able to write a giant postcard from their holiday destination, compose their own landscape and use the free Family Trail to take their parents round the exhibition.
The exhibition tours to Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens in July.
The Lowry aims to continue raising the profile and public understanding of L S Lowry's work. It is home to Salford City Council's collection of the artist's work (over 330 of oils and drawings) which are displayed in thematic exhibitions such as Lowry's Travels. The changing exhibition programme enables us to examine different facets of Lowry's work, sometimes displaying it alongside historic, 20th century or contemporary art made by others.
Notes to Editors
Further Details About The Galleries
Gallery Opening Times: Sun-Wed 11am - 5pm Thu & Fri 11am - 7.30pm Sat 10am - 7.30pm
Admission to the Galleries is free, however, on arrival you will need an admission ticket from the Galleries Desk. We encourage donations to support the Galleries and the care of the L S Lowry Collection.
Posted on Friday, 10 January 2003 under Press Galleries Press