Turner Contemporary shows how JMW Turner revolutionized Landscape Painting

Written by Norman Blackwell Saturday, 28 January 2012 22:07

MARGATE, UK - Eighty-eight works by Britain’s best-loved painter, JMW Turner , many from Tate’s collection, will go on show in the major exhibition Turner and the Elements at Turner Contemporary in Margate from 28th January –13th May. The exhibition, including a number of works featuring Margate and the north Kent coast, illustrates how his painting technique and the influence of the latest scientific and technological developments of his time, revolutionized landscape painting. JMW Turner was a frequent visitor to Margate spending time there as a child and again later in his life. He is said to have remarked to John Ruskin that “the skies over Thanet are the loveliest in all Europe”.

In the 1820s and 1830s Turner lodged with Sophia Booth in a house that was located on the same site as Turner Contemporary. The windows from the house provided Turner with an ever-changing view over the beach, pier and jetty and Margate became a central subject in many of his works made at that time.

In these images of Margate and the Kentish coast, Turner’s fascination with the elements, air and water, is apparent. The exhibition focuses on the theme of the elements in the artist’s work and is divided into five sections: Earth, Water, Air, Fire and Fusion.

Sketches in the exhibition known as ‘colour beginnings’ reference Margate and the North Kent coast, Margate circa 1830, Storm on Margate Sands 1835-40 and Margate from the sea circa 1835.


Turner and the Elements is organized in collaboration with Bucerius Kunst Forum, Hamburg and The National Museum Kracow . A fully illustrated catalogue is available to accompany the exhibition.

Curated by Inés Richter-Musso and Ortrud Westheider, the exhibition is the only opportunity to see this selection of works by Turner together in the UK

In 1998, the Leader of Kent County Council and representatives of Kent Artists met to discuss the idea. At the same time, plans were being developed to create a cultural quarter in Margate’s Old Town as part of a wider East Kent Cultural Strategy – the idea of a Turner gallery that would stimulate Margate’s culture-led regeneration was born. From 2008 to 2011, work was underway to create a stunningly beautiful building on Margate’s seafront. The gallery opened on 16 April 2011.

Visit : http://www.turnercontemporary.org/

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