THE DARK MONARCH : Magic and Modernity in British Art

1 Sep 2009-21 Mar 2010

Overview

Enter a dark fairytale of shadowy landscapes, mysterious figures, the secret and the supernatural. This exhibition, which takes its title from the infamous 1962 book by Sven Berlin, explores how folklore, mysticism, mythology and the occult have influenced British art over the past 100 years. Focussing on the landscapes and legends of the British isles, the otherwordly elements that have fascinated artists across the generations are awakened. Originally curated for Tate St Ives, the exhibition features significant 20th century British artists (including Graham Sutherland, Barbara Hepworth and John Piper) alongside contemporary names (such as Cerith Wyn Evans, Eva Rothschild and Linder), and inlcudes a key work by Damian Hirst.