THE ART OF WHITE
An Unique Exhibition Exploring The Use Of White In Historic And Contemporary Art
The Lowry, Salford Quays
12 November 2005 –17 April 2006
“White is not a mere absence of colour; it is a shining and affirmative thing, as fierce as red, as definite as black” – GK Chesterton
The Art of White is a dazzling exploration of the use of white in art spanning 500 years which, across 80 works, illustrates how the colour is far from neutral. Especially curated for The Lowry by Clive Adams and Eddie Bowes, The Art Of White takes the viewer on a fascinating journey through an array of artworks that are all linked by a simple, yet powerful, creative factor.
Purity, innocence, moral goodness, sterility, peace, spirituality and meditative silence are all expressed through the use of the colour in works by artists as varied as Picasso, Martin Creed, Robert Ryman, Turner, Constable, Landseer, Valette, Philip Wilson Steer, Rossetti, Van Dyck, Gainsborough, Andy Goldsworthy and Michael Craig-Martin. From religious scenes to still lifes, portraits to photograph and snow-scenes to sculpture, the exhibition reveals how the colour white has, through art, come to depict a raft of emotions that stand as powerful symbols.
The inspiration behind the exhibition is LS Lowry’s near obsessive use of white in his paintings. Many photographs of the artist capture him splattered in white paint from head to toe and, over the years, he began to use it in increasingly thick layers.
He also claimed that early in his career he carefully studied how white paint changed colour over time and locked up a series of white painted canvasses for seven years to test the effect of ageing. He discovered that his preferred lead-based white paint gradually turned to shades of cream and brown - cracking and flaking in the process - and he felt this deterioration actually improved his work. This, he concluded, meant: “..the pictures I’ve painted today will not be seen at their best until I’m dead….”
A selection of Lowry works on display reflect this obsession, from his depiction of pollution-laden industrial skies from the 1930s to solitary figures isolated against dense white backgrounds painted towards the end of his life.
The Art of White also includes two specially commissioned works that bring a contemporary edge to the exhibition. Critically acclaimed artist Natasha Kidd has created a network of copper pipes that run above the Deck gallery through which gallons of white emulsion paint are circulated. The paint’s flow however is interrupted by series of taps which results in a constant stream of paint drips running down a set of steel plates, leaving streaks of emulsion on the smooth metal surfaces. Variable pumping pressure also causes ever-changing paint distribution, creating bumps, ridges and ‘stalactite’ paint formations. Visitors get to see this mechanical painting process in real time - with the stunning visual effect complemented by the smell of fresh paint and gurgling, dripping sounds from Kidd’s pipes, taps and plumbing.
The second installation is by Fevered Sleep, a London based artist collective that have created a huge flotilla of floating paper boats suspended above The Lowry’s foyer. These not only capture the spirit of a childhood pastime from more innocent days, but also symbolise the north west’s industrial and maritime heritage - when ships transported white goods such as salt and cotton on the Manchester Ship Canal.
Co-curator Clive Adams, whose previous Lowry exhibition ‘The Impossible View’ won the Museums & Heritage Award for ‘Best Temporary Exhibition’ in 2003, has structured the diverse collection of works across three creative themes; representative, symbolic and conceptual – which further helps illustrate how the colour conveys highly contrasted messages and meanings through art.
He said of the exhibition: “White has always played a major role in culture and society and you only have to look at the recent ‘Make Poverty History’ wristbands to see that it continues to resonate with associations of peace, strength and moral goodness. The use of white in art reflects both society’s own assigned meanings to the colour and has also actually created cultural associations that we all recognise.”
White is also an enduring visual puzzle - being not technically a colour at all and often considered ‘colourless’. However, as The Art Of White demonstrates, despite its apparent neutrality it has always been an intensely powerful element within the artist’s palette.
ENDS
Clive Adams, Eddie Bowes and Natasha Kidd are available for interview. A fully illustrated 96- page catalogue will be available from November 4th. For interview requests, catalogue requests or more information contact Richard Bond at Spin Media Public Relations on 0161 236 9909 or email richard@spinmedia.co.uk
A selection of images from The Art of White for press use are available from The Lowry’s digital image library website - www.thelowryimages.com. Images of LS Lowry are also available in the folder named ‘Pictures of LS Lowry’. New users should go to the registration page first, enter your personal details and use the registration key Water (lower case only) for a password to be immediately e-mailed back to you. You will then have access to ‘Images available’ via the log-in page. Any problems please contact Rob Allen, Marketing Administrator, robert.allen@thelowry on 0161 876 2024 Exhibition Details The Art of White 12 November 2005 –17 April 2006 The Lowry, Pier 8, Salford Quays M50 3AZ Information & Box Office Telephone 0870 787 5793 www.thelowry.com
Posted on Tuesday, 01 November 2005 under Press Galleries Press