Two exciting new exhibitions Making It: Sculpture in Britain 1977 -1986 and Don’t be afraid of Pink: Paintings by Stephen Collingbourne opened at the City Art Centre at the weekend.
Making It explores the emergence of a younger generation of artists working in the UK who, in the 1970s and 1980s, began to receive international attention for practices which shared a revived interest in the sculpted object.
The first exhibition to survey this moment in British sculpture, Making It displays diverse works from 38 artists including Antony Gormley, Phyllida Barlow and Eduardo Paolozzi to show how approaches to object-making were reinvigorated by these artists.
Showing alongside is an exhibition of paintings by Borders-based artist Stephen Collingbourne. Entitled Don’t be afraid of Pink, (above) it showcases Collingbourne’s recent work in which he has concentrated on highly coloured semi-abstract paintings in oils, both on paper and constructed wooden panels. Both exhibitions opened on Saturday.
Councillor Richard Lewis, Edinburgh’s Culture Convener, said: “This spring Edinburgh’s City Art Centre will be injected with an explosion of colour and form when Making It fills two floors with art works from 38 of Britain’s most influential sculptors. The touring display from the Arts Council Collection shines a light on a breakthrough moment in British sculpture which until now, has never been celebrated with a dedicated exhibition.
“Stephen Collingbourne’s paintings draw technical inspiration from his 20 years as a lecturer in sculpture at Edinburgh’s own College of Art. His colourful, semi-abstract, oil paintings displayed on the ground floor and first floor annexe gallery will offer the perfect accompaniment to Making It’s celebration of sculpture. The spring shows will only be on display for eight weeks. Don’t miss them.”
Dr Jon Wood from the Arts Council Collection, co-curator of the exhibition, said: “Making It offers an opportunity to look again at this imaginative and materially resourceful period for sculpture. In these years, artists turned to ‘sculpture’, using objects, found materials, colour, images, humour, figuration and narrative, whilst asking searching questions of their own practices and processes.”
Don’t be afraid of Pink refers to a time when Stephen Collingbourne was a student in the 1960s: “My painting tutor suggested that I work with the colour I most disliked. His idea was that I should rid myself of any preconceptions and learn to appreciate the potential of every colour. At that time the colour I disliked most was pink.”
Talking about the exhibition, the artist said: “I often work in series which allows me to explore and develop several different images over time. I intend my paintings to be spatially ambiguous. They may be read simply as shapes on a surface, but at the same time can give a sense of three dimensional spaces. Expressing sensation and emotion through colour is as important to me as form and structure. However much I plan, starting a new piece of work is a voyage of discovery.”
Dates: Making It: Sculpture in Britain 1977-1986 and Don’t be afraid of Pink: Paintings by Stephen Collingbourne run until Sunday 3 July 2016.
Admission: Both exhibitions are admission free.
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