Page 79 - Studio International - May June 1975

The AIR Exhibition of 30 British Died: Walker Evans the American messiness and transience of life.
artists at the Taidehalli, Helsinki, photographer. A retrospective of Obituaries The man, like his art, could be
marked a new advance in the his work will be shown at the witty, rude, awkward and
development of the Registry and Hayward Gallery next year. abrasive, both life-enhancing.
one which should be duly noted General: James Torrance's Roger Hilton
by its supporters. 'London now in Celtic Knot, Glasgow's second David Brown writes: Alan Green writes:
Berlin', the last major Registry gable end painting, at 30 South For me the relevance of Roger
event abroad, took place 6 years Annandale Street, Govanhill, was Roger Hilton died, painting at the Hilton's paintings has little to do
ago and was very much identified `unveiled' recently. The scheme, top of his form, at his home in St with the particular bridging
with the newly launched and more initiated by the Scottish Arts Just, Cornwall, on 23 February, position he occupies between the
sensational SPACE programme. Council and carried out in 1975, one month short of his sixty- School of Paris and the 'Colour
This time a sizeable proportion of conjunction with the Calder fourth birthday and almost a year Field', 'Hard Edge' situation of
the artists shown were not tenants Square Residents' Association, after the survey of his work the sixties and seventies.
of SPACE studios and many Govanhill, cost £1,000. ICI opened at the Serpentine Gallery What really counts is his sheer
(Cohen, Caulfield, Hoyland, provided the paint. and introduced his work to many. ability to get it down. Something
King, etc.) were established gallery Courses: Warwick Univ. Even at Born at Northwood, Middlesex, much more than just handwriting:
artists. David Thompson, in undergraduate degree level a the son of a doctor and an ex- an absolute conviction that what
selecting the exhibition from the comprehension of the media and Slade student, after two years at he puts there is exactly what it
Registry's slides, deliberately techniques used for works of art the Slade himself Hilton spent pertains to be. He may never have
emphasized this breadth of styles is of fundamental value. It may most of the thirties in Paris, been a great innovator signposting
now registered and the range of start from nothing more than the mainly at Academie Ranson under a way forward, but he has set
its artists, from the middle-aged appreciation of the essential Bissière where he laid the standards for direct action without
and famous to the young and differences between brick and foundations of his masterly the qualification of a particular
unknown. With an AIR stone architecture, or tempera handling of paint. After the war, aesthetic.
Exhibition such juxtapositions are and oil painting. The aim of this two years of which were spent as a The later gouaches seem to
possible in a way they are not in second year course at Warwick prisoner of war after being have gone outside the habits and
more official contexts. It is now University is to give a systematic captured in the Dieppe raid, disciplines of painting to a degree
apparent that this is one of the survey course in materials and Hilton returned to painting. Some where they become more the
great strengths of the Registry as techniques as an integral part of of his works of 1953-4 were actual people, toys, objects,
opposed to the British Council, anArt -Historical HonoursDegree. among the most uncompromising animals they recall. They are
for instance, or the Arts Council It will form a quarter of the abstract paintings produced in certainly far away from the
(both of which, of course, support second year course. Topics England at the time. Eschewing various international codes
it). It stands for artists in Britain, covered will include such things illusory pictorial space some employed today - serving as a
not British Art. as the making of the Mediaeval showed references to the human reminder that what we are liable
Misunderstandings of this book, the building of Gothic body. Allusions to the body and to subscribe to as painters are
important point undoubtedly Cathedrals and the development landscape increased from 1955 frequently in fact a series of well
contributed to the comparatively of oil painting. Whereas many of and suggestions of boats, beaches recorded, documentated
lukewarm reviews of the show in these topics will obviously have and figures floating in water philosophized conventions.
the Finnish press. Foreign to be treated from a theoretical reflected stays in Cornwall. A
exhibitions, expecially of the scale point of view it is envisaged that series of frankly figurative
under discussion here, when 21 students will also have some paintings from 1961 onwards, Bryan Wynter
artists and AIR members were including the dancing, earthy nude
practical acquaintance with the 8 September 1915 - 11 February
splendidly entertained for a week actual materials themselves. Oi Yoi Yoi in the Tate produced
by the Finnish Artists Association, controversy at a time when 1975
This will include the making up
have a refreshing informality. of mediaeval pigments under abstraction had for many
AIR shows tend to be a laboratory conditions, the use become the norm. In 1964 Hilton Patrick Heron writes:
demonstration of work in exhibited at the Venice Biennale The fact that an artist as brilliant
progress. Artists meet on level, of a microscope, the processes of and was awarded the UNESCO as Bryan Wynter has died in West
book illumination and so on. Cornwall, at the age of 59, so
not diplomatic, terms. At present prize. During the past two years
the Registry, with SPACE, is Clearly these aspects of the or so, when confined to bed poorly celebrated by the London
course will require some attention art establishment that his long
continuing its search for an through ill health, he painted in
exhibition area in central London. being given to the condition of gouache. Some works were development is now largely
works of art and their unfamiliar to any but his close
If found this could be an abstract and others reflected his
inspiring alternative to the conservation. Similarly, problems family, surroundings, dogs, cats friends and colleagues in
of the conservation of modern Cornwall (one painting only, and
present London set-up and and other animals, some
potentially the most exciting paintings as well as their imaginary; many were of the one kinetic mobile are his sole
visual art development to happen techniques will be considered. female nude, an obsessive subject representation in the Tate's
here for years. Some of that This course is a new venture at for Hilton throughout his life. collection) points to the
potential has already come to the University and it is hoped that Roger Hilton was a man of pathological lack of courage,
it will evolve into an important
fruition at the Taidehalli. acute, often discomforting, energy, and sheer judgement
part of the Art Historical perception, an outstanding displayed by all those semi-
Fairs: 6th International Art Fair, curriculum. draftsman and colourist and his official bodies (and committees)
ART 6 '75, Basle, June 18-23. 300 work reflects the essential vitality, which should have seen to it, ten
exhibitors and leading galleries
from 20 countries participating.
Malevich: The Israel Museum,
Jerusalem announces the
publication in September of 'The
Graphic Art of Kasimir Malevich:
A Print Catalogue Raisonné' by
Donald Karshan. An exhibition
of the complete graphic work of
Malevich will open at The Israel
Museum, Jerusalem, in November.
Any information regarding the
prints of Malevich is welcome at:
The Israel Museum, 22
Rambuteau, Paris IV.
Closing: Alexander Postan Fine
Art, 3B Grosvenor St, WI.
People: Andrew Forge is to be
head of the Fine Art Department,
Yale University. Bryan Robertson
remains undecided after his
dismissal from Purchase in
January. William Feaver replaces
Nigel Gosling on The Observer.

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