Geoff Hands | Northbrook College, Sussex (original) (raw)
Painter and writer. Retired from teaching (2015).
Address: Brighton, United Kingdom
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Papers by Geoff Hands
Hardpainting as a concept appears to be difficult to pin down. The best advice would be to engage... more Hardpainting as a concept appears to be difficult to pin down. The best advice would be to engage in primary research and visit the exhibitions and see for yourself. Or, if that is not an option, make a note of the exhibitor's names and search out their works at other venues. For secondary research, trawl through your catalogues and bookshelves and visit the artists' websites. As you form some notion of what Hardpainting is, there's one important proviso: exclude the figurative. And a recommendation: be a little speculative and maintain a spirit of deliberate inexactitude. Also, pluralism is good (it's certainly contemporary), for Hardpainting is not to be placed into a theoretical straight jacket. At least not yet.
AbCrit, 2020
The first HARDPAINTING show was held at Phoenix Art Space, Brighton (UK) in 2018. Two years later... more The first HARDPAINTING show was held at Phoenix Art Space, Brighton (UK) in 2018. Two years later a two-part development of HARDPAINTING was held in the same gallery location.
I have written five reviews of these shows for three blogs: fineartruminations, Saturation Point and AbCrit.
Spaces available to show contemporary art in Brighton are limited, but Phoenix Brighton is underg... more Spaces available to show contemporary art in Brighton are limited, but Phoenix Brighton is undergoing a public engagement transformation that will be further re-calibrated with a refurbished gallery space in 2019. The last significant painting shows here were '32 Paintings' (2013) and '20 Painters' (2014) that showcased a broad range of styles and interests from Sussex based artists and were co-curated by Patrick O'Donnell (with Nicholas Pace and June Frickleton, respectively). During the second exhibition a public discussion event took place with Peter Ashton Jones, co-founder of Turps Banana magazine and art historian Peter Seddon. A lingering memory of that evening was of a rather polite assembly of listeners who did not rise to the bait (if that was the intention) of having the range of work on display described as "Home Counties" painting (aka provincial?). Nevertheless, hopes for an ongoing debate about contemporary art (not just painting) were kindled by this initiative, and rightly so, for the gallery space, with or without a forum, is the most appropriate public arena for a meaningful debate to take place.
ALEXANDER CALDER: PERFORMING SCULPTURE Tate Modern (11 November 2015 – 3 April 2016) 'BORN IN THE... more ALEXANDER CALDER: PERFORMING SCULPTURE
Tate Modern (11 November 2015 – 3 April 2016)
'BORN IN THE USA"
Exhibition review for Conceptual Fine Arts (online)
Fineartruminations, 2016
Lou Reed Drones - UK Premiere. The Spire (St Mark’s Chapel), Brighton. May 2016
fineartruminations, 2019
Review of the David Bellingham exhibition, 'Driving School', at Phoenix Brighton Gallery, UK. Jan... more Review of the David Bellingham exhibition, 'Driving School', at Phoenix Brighton Gallery, UK. January 2019.
fineartruminations, 2018
Review of the Tomma Abts exhibition at Serpentine Sackler Gallery 2018.
Hardpainting as a concept appears to be difficult to pin down. The best advice would be to engage... more Hardpainting as a concept appears to be difficult to pin down. The best advice would be to engage in primary research and visit the exhibitions and see for yourself. Or, if that is not an option, make a note of the exhibitor's names and search out their works at other venues. For secondary research, trawl through your catalogues and bookshelves and visit the artists' websites. As you form some notion of what Hardpainting is, there's one important proviso: exclude the figurative. And a recommendation: be a little speculative and maintain a spirit of deliberate inexactitude. Also, pluralism is good (it's certainly contemporary), for Hardpainting is not to be placed into a theoretical straight jacket. At least not yet.
AbCrit, 2020
The first HARDPAINTING show was held at Phoenix Art Space, Brighton (UK) in 2018. Two years later... more The first HARDPAINTING show was held at Phoenix Art Space, Brighton (UK) in 2018. Two years later a two-part development of HARDPAINTING was held in the same gallery location.
I have written five reviews of these shows for three blogs: fineartruminations, Saturation Point and AbCrit.
Spaces available to show contemporary art in Brighton are limited, but Phoenix Brighton is underg... more Spaces available to show contemporary art in Brighton are limited, but Phoenix Brighton is undergoing a public engagement transformation that will be further re-calibrated with a refurbished gallery space in 2019. The last significant painting shows here were '32 Paintings' (2013) and '20 Painters' (2014) that showcased a broad range of styles and interests from Sussex based artists and were co-curated by Patrick O'Donnell (with Nicholas Pace and June Frickleton, respectively). During the second exhibition a public discussion event took place with Peter Ashton Jones, co-founder of Turps Banana magazine and art historian Peter Seddon. A lingering memory of that evening was of a rather polite assembly of listeners who did not rise to the bait (if that was the intention) of having the range of work on display described as "Home Counties" painting (aka provincial?). Nevertheless, hopes for an ongoing debate about contemporary art (not just painting) were kindled by this initiative, and rightly so, for the gallery space, with or without a forum, is the most appropriate public arena for a meaningful debate to take place.
ALEXANDER CALDER: PERFORMING SCULPTURE Tate Modern (11 November 2015 – 3 April 2016) 'BORN IN THE... more ALEXANDER CALDER: PERFORMING SCULPTURE
Tate Modern (11 November 2015 – 3 April 2016)
'BORN IN THE USA"
Exhibition review for Conceptual Fine Arts (online)
Fineartruminations, 2016
Lou Reed Drones - UK Premiere. The Spire (St Mark’s Chapel), Brighton. May 2016
fineartruminations, 2019
Review of the David Bellingham exhibition, 'Driving School', at Phoenix Brighton Gallery, UK. Jan... more Review of the David Bellingham exhibition, 'Driving School', at Phoenix Brighton Gallery, UK. January 2019.
fineartruminations, 2018
Review of the Tomma Abts exhibition at Serpentine Sackler Gallery 2018.