Curator: David Smith
This exhibition features works from the U of L Art Collection that depict realistic and abstract night scenes. Featuring Joane Cardinal-Schubert, Alex Katz, David Thauberger, and others.
Night at the Gallery
How did it get so late so soon? Its night before its afternoon. December is here before its June. My goodness how the time has flewn. How did it get so late so soon? – Dr. Seuss
The darkness that nightfall brings can be unnerving for those who fear what they cannot see and yet others find peace in the solitude of a quiet moonlight stroll. The ways in which artists have represented their experiences of the night are similarly quite diverse. Many artists have had an interest in representing the effects of light on objects such as buildings or landscapes. Of equal interest, however, to the artists in this exhibition are the ways of representing the sky itself, which is depicted in a wide range styles from realism to abstraction.
Outside the gallery, the bucolic landscape by Illingworth Kerr and the snowy Nanton scene by R.F.M. McInnis both depict night scenes using light colours and have a tranquil quality. These two works provide a contrast to the dramatic and graphic works by Chris Temple, David Thauberger, and Alex Katz inside the gallery given that the harsh and severe nature of the abstraction in these works conveys a sense of apprehension to the viewer. Ted Godwin’s Poacher’s Moon and Archibald Browne’s Untitled Landscape, despite their obvious difference in size, seem to depict the same moment. The night is winding down giving way to the first rays of morning light. This is an optimistic moment that gives the viewer a sense of promise and possibility. Further works such as those by Joane Cardinal-Schubert and David Bierk represent the night sky in a form of organic abstraction, which allows the viewer to apply their own interpretation.
To complement the cool nature of the works selected for Night at the Gallery; Nightscapes from the U of L Art Collection, make sure and visit the Helen Christou Gallery exhibition Heatwave, which runs from July 11- August 28, 2014.
– David Smith, Preparator/Assistant Curator, U of L Art Gallery
