Wednesday 23 December 2009
At The Edge: British Art 1950 – 2000
16 January 2010 – 13 March 2010
At The Edge is a survey of British postwar art drawn from the collections of the Harris Museum & Art Gallery, Touchstones Rochdale, Gallery Oldham and Bolton Museum. Together they present a fascinating insight into the artistic tastes and cultural challenges of the period, from a North-West perspective.
Presenting work through the decades, from the 1950s to the 1990s, the exhibition traces artistic developments through a richly diverse mix of sculpture, ceramics, painting, photography and print. It features over 50 works by renowned British artists such as Henry Moore, John Bratby, Lucian Freud, Patrick Heron, Leon Kossof, Frank Auerbach, David Mach, Dhruva Mistry and Helen Chadwick.
The four galleries previously collaborated on the award winning 2006 touring exhibition Creative Tension. This exhibition explored British Art of 1900 – 1950 across the galleries’ collections, including major art movements such as Abstract art, Surrealism and Impressionism.
At The Edge follows on chronologically from Creative Tension, and explores work from some of the ground-breaking artists of the latter half of the twentieth century. Many of these were viewed as highly controversial at the time, and it was not uncommon for galleries to face opposition and criticism in collecting these important works. At The Edge considers the challenges faced and asks how going forward, visitors may continue to find inspiration and meaning in their local galleries.
At The Edge is part of the Contemporary Art Society’s 2009 - 2010 centenary celebrations. The Society has been purchasing works of art and donating them to British museums and galleries for nearly 100 years. It aims to support contemporary artists and ensure that important contemporary works are made available and accessible to the widest possible audiences across the country.
Exhibition highlights include distinctive ceramics such as the influential studio pottery of Bernard Leach, sculptural ceramic work by James Tower and a surprising and playful piece by Angus Suttie. You’ll also find striking sculpture by Eduardo Paolozzi, Lynn Chadwick, Henry Moore, Elizabeth Frink and Laura Ford.
Further key pieces include paintings by Howard Hodgkin, Maggi Hambling and the influential Lucian Freud. Also on display is a stunning photographic portrait by Maud Sulter and a thought provoking piece by artist Helen Chadwick.
The exhibition presents a unique opportunity to see a truly diverse collection of important British art from this period. At The Edge will tour the four galleries - following Touchstones Rochdale in 2009, the exhibition moves next to the Harris Museum & Art Gallery, Preston from 16th January 2010 – 13th March 2010, then to Gallery Oldham from 17th April – 17th July 2010 and to Bolton Museum, Art Gallery & Aquarium from 31st July – 30th October 2010.
At The Edge: British Art 1950 – 2000
16 January 2010 – 13 March 2010
At The Edge is a survey of British postwar art drawn from the collections of the Harris Museum & Art Gallery, Touchstones Rochdale, Gallery Oldham and Bolton Museum. Together they present a fascinating insight into the artistic tastes and cultural challenges of the period, from a North-West perspective.
Presenting work through the decades, from the 1950s to the 1990s, the exhibition traces artistic developments through a richly diverse mix of sculpture, ceramics, painting, photography and print. It features over 50 works by renowned British artists such as Henry Moore, John Bratby, Lucian Freud, Patrick Heron, Leon Kossof, Frank Auerbach, David Mach, Dhruva Mistry and Helen Chadwick.
The four galleries previously collaborated on the award winning 2006 touring exhibition Creative Tension. This exhibition explored British Art of 1900 – 1950 across the galleries’ collections, including major art movements such as Abstract art, Surrealism and Impressionism.
At The Edge follows on chronologically from Creative Tension, and explores work from some of the ground-breaking artists of the latter half of the twentieth century. Many of these were viewed as highly controversial at the time, and it was not uncommon for galleries to face opposition and criticism in collecting these important works. At The Edge considers the challenges faced and asks how going forward, visitors may continue to find inspiration and meaning in their local galleries.
At The Edge is part of the Contemporary Art Society’s 2009 - 2010 centenary celebrations. The Society has been purchasing works of art and donating them to British museums and galleries for nearly 100 years. It aims to support contemporary artists and ensure that important contemporary works are made available and accessible to the widest possible audiences across the country.
Exhibition highlights include distinctive ceramics such as the influential studio pottery of Bernard Leach, sculptural ceramic work by James Tower and a surprising and playful piece by Angus Suttie. You’ll also find striking sculpture by Eduardo Paolozzi, Lynn Chadwick, Henry Moore, Elizabeth Frink and Laura Ford.
Further key pieces include paintings by Howard Hodgkin, Maggi Hambling and the influential Lucian Freud. Also on display is a stunning photographic portrait by Maud Sulter and a thought provoking piece by artist Helen Chadwick.
The exhibition presents a unique opportunity to see a truly diverse collection of important British art from this period. At The Edge will tour the four galleries - following Touchstones Rochdale in 2009, the exhibition moves next to the Harris Museum & Art Gallery, Preston from 16th January 2010 – 13th March 2010, then to Gallery Oldham from 17th April – 17th July 2010 and to Bolton Museum, Art Gallery & Aquarium from 31st July – 30th October 2010.
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