Richard Gorman: Living Through Painting

9 Mar-20 Aug 2023

Overview

Hugh Lane Gallery is delighted to present a survey exhibition by Richard Gorman in collaboration with the Contemporary Art Museum of Villa Croce, and Oriental Art Museum E. Chiossone, Genoa, Italy.

The work of Richard Gorman follows his very personal insights and intentions in the manipulation of colours, forms and metaphors on the flat plane of a canvas. Every time we look at a Richard Gorman painting, one can ask what is it and what does it mean? His sensuous paintings and off beat shapes appear mobile – as if floating past, ascending and colliding with one another. His use of handmade rice paper for printing comes from his time spent I Japan which greatly influenced his thinking.

 “A painting is a conflict with disorder. A painting is not a message to anyone. It may not tell a story, it may not even represent an idea. It means only that it signifies what I spend my time doing – it is the outcome of that process of making and remaking on the flat surface in search of a precarious balance.” – Richard Gorman

“The concrete paintings of Richard Gorman engage the beholder, so that the viewer reacts to the questions they pose. Their preconditions have to do with the development of painting in the twentieth century and with Gorman’s reflection on this history” – Michael Dempsey

Viewing a Richard Gorman painting is to be in front of a theatrical setting where the geometrical elements interact with the canvas or paper surface. It is possible to affirm that his work is a spatial art made up of fragmented and overlapped outlines ” – Valeria Ceregini

The exhibition is accompanied by a full-colour publication with an essay by Roy Foster.

This exhibition is curated by Michael Dempsey and Valeria Ceregini, with assistance by Meabh Delaney.

Artists