Fortnum’s X Frank AW17: John Bellamy

Colourful exhibition at Fortnum & Mason of work by John Bellany.

This is the second exhibition at the shop and this year they chose to look at an individual artist. This is the first exhibition of Bellany’s work in London since his death in 2013. It’s a great idea to show the work in the shop as it give its an almost domestic setting and it’s fun wandering round with the plan trying to find a all the works. Plus I’m not adverse to a nice ice cream sundae at the end as a reward!

The works were big and bright and were engaging pictures of people both his friends and figures from his youth in Scotland. There was a sense of joy and freedom about them.

“The Scottish Fish Gutter”, an early work from 1965, was a monumental picture with the fish and their innards forming a colourful almost abstract pattern around the central figure. I loved his homage to Titian in a “Danae Shower of Gold” with himself as the main servant.

There were also a few landscapes and I think my favourite picture was of Shanghai harbour in wonderful shades of yellow and orange.

Closed on 28 October 2017.

Review
Telegraph

 

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