‘Howard Hodgkin: Green Thoughts’ at the Alan Cristea Gallery

From the press release:

Alan Cristea Gallery is pleased to present Green Thoughts, an exhibition of new work by Howard Hodgkin, one of Britain’s most celebrated artists. The exhibition features nineteen new limited editions including a special hand-painted carborundum relief entitled For Alan (2014). Printed in seven colour variations, the work is a testament to Hodgkin’s close working relationship with gallery owner and publisher Alan Cristea which spans over 20 years. Exhibited alongside the new works is a unique hand-painted version of the 20ft etching, As Time Goes By (2009).

Hodgkin’s work often refers to memories and personal experiences. The show’s title Green Thoughts references Andrew Marvell’s 17th-century poem The Garden. Through a deliberate avoidance of the illustrative, Hodgkin draws inspiration for the new prints from Marvell’s own green thoughts’. If sometimes the works remain resistant to interpretation, the artist’s gestural marks, vibrant colours and evocative titles such as Storm Cloud and Sundown, invite contemplation about encounters with nature.

Hodgkin’s works have the appearance of spontaneity, yet they are the result of extensive layering and complex print processes. The artist has continually explored the possibilities of printmaking throughout his career, working across a number of techniques, such as sugarlift aquatint and lithography, in addition to experimenting with scale. These new prints are made using a combination of carborundum relief and hand-painting.

Green Thoughts will be accompanied by a fully illustrated catalogue with an introduction written by author and BBC journalist Andrew Marr.

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