He is undeniably producing some sublime work at the moment particularly as he’s living in the exotic lands of sunny Trinidad. And so its probably a surprise to see he was producing some very colourful works even back whilst studying his art degree in 1980’s London, around the same time as the
influential YBA’s.
I was both surprised and taken aback in the most fantastic way when I saw his abundant use of spray paint, neon/metallic paints, graphic lines, spontaneous mark-making and unruly shapes. In fact, all of his work featured weird perspectives and unusual compositions, a lot of them were partly upside down, or to the left and right, a real treasure trove of visual magic. There was an overall emphasis on shape rather than detail, yet where detail was needed for instance in his large city scenes, you will find funny characters, quirky writing and silly cartoons throughout the piece.
Myself pictured in front of Doig’s paintings and drawings |
A carefully executed, brilliant show to see with plenty of smaller paintings and drawings too. So if you’re planning a trip to London anytime before the end of May, then catch a tube to Marble Arch where its literally a hop, skip and jump to the gallery.