'New Art for a New Era' at Laing Art Gallery

Friday, 11 August 2006 11:49

Newcastle upon Tyne - The Laing Art Gallery’s latest exhibition New Art for a New Era is a display of spectacular paintings from the gallery’s collection.  The exhibition spans the groundbreaking changes which took place in art in the twentieth century from the Edwardian period to the sixties.  It includes work by Stanley Spencer, LS Lowry and Laura Knight.

The diverse display comprises of British paintings inspired by Impressionism, Post Impressionism, Abstraction, Surrealism and Pointillism.  The movement from the figurative composition to snapshot style portraits is explored and the trend towards painting landscapes in the open air. 

Paintings of local scenes include L S Lowry’s Old Chapel, Newcastle painted on a visit to the North East in 1965 and the stylized The Building of the Tyne Bridge in 1928 by Edward Dickey, who was Professor of Art at Newcastle University.  A centerpiece of the later pictures is Stanley Spencer’s important painting The Lovers, illustrating his very personal combination of Bible themes with the everyday life of his home village.

Colourful light-filled scenes of the British impressionists are one of the highlights of the exhibition with paintings by Stanhope Forbes, and Laura and Harold Knight.  These artists explored the effect of light on their surroundings.  Attractive figure and landscape paintings by artists working in a more Realist style are also included. 

Two paintings, which could not previously be displayed, have been especially conserved for the exhibition.  The glowing colors of a grand, decorative landscape painted in 1900 by Sir Alfred East and a sparkling seascape by Julius Olsson can now be enjoyed in their former glory thanks to funding from the Friends of the Laing Art Gallery. 

Julie Milne, curator, said:

“The gallery already has an impressive display of its 18^th and 19^th century paintings and we were keen to create a similar exhibition of our important 20^th century collection.  We have selected paintings in a wide variety of styles to appeal to the diverse tastes of our visitors and provide another good reason to visit the gallery.”

New Art for a New Era on exhibit until April 2007 at the Laing Art Gallery...

Visit : http://www.twmuseums.org.uk/laing/