Tightrope Walk: Painted Images after Abstraction

Unexpectedly interesting exhibition at White Cube looking at how the art of making a representational painting was redefined over the past century.

I liked the way the show didn’t try to give you a history of the topic it just presented you with images both contemporary and from the last century and just made you think about whether the image worked for you. Around the walls were unattributed quotes about modern art to which stimulated the thought process.

Most astonishing was the quality of the work here. There was a Matisse, a Bacon, some Freud’s, and a couple of Picasso’s. They were shown without fanfare just letting them say something about representation alongside less well known artists.

I loved a small picture by Ellen Altfest called “Abdomen” of the side of a man against a carpet focusing in so close to his body that it becomes an abstract image. I also liked Francis Picabia’s “Halia” which had layers of image. At first look it was one face over another two however as you looked there was also a hand, and angel and more. It reminded me of Renaissance under drawing.

Closes on 24 January 2016.

Review
Guardian

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