Wilhelmina Barns-Graham
Barns-Graham had always worked with themes such as rock forms, line motifs and abstract reliefs which she returned to over the years. The glacier theme began in 19488 when Barns-Graham visited Grindelwald in the Bernese Oberland in Switzerland; she worked on the theme for three years whilst also making purely abstract works. A similar painting to this, entitled Glacier Crystal, Grindelwald (1950) belongs to the Tate collection (www.tate.org.uk). The artist recalled ‘The massive strength and size of the glaciers, the fantastic shapes, the contrast of solidity and transparency, the many reflected colour in strong light … This likeness to glass and transparency, combined with solid rough ridges made me wish to combine in a work all angles at once, from above, through and all around, as a bird flies, a total experience’.
The Tate Gallery Report 1964-65, HMSO 1966
- Accession Number P175
- Dimensions 39.4 X 62.9 CM
- Media OIL ON CANVAS
Glossary
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Painting
Work of art made with paint on a surface. Often the surface, also called a support, is a tightly stretched piece of canvas, paper or a wooden panel. Painting involves a wide range of techniques and materials, along with the artist's intellectual concerns effecting the content of a work.
Work Theme
Past exhibitions
OUT OF BRITAIN
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2012
- Oman, Muscat, Bait Al Zubair Museum
- Kuwait, Kuwait City, Contemporary Art Platform
- Saudi Arabia, Al Kohbar, Sultan Bin Abdulaziz Science & Technology Center
- Saudi Arabia, Jeddah, Athr Gallery
- Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, Riyadh National Museum
FROM DESTRUCTION TO ABSTRACTION BRITISH ART IN THE 1940S AND 1950S
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2008
- Syria, Damascus, University Of Damascus
WILHELMINA BARNS-GRAHAM MOVEMENT AND LIGHT: IMAG(IN)ING TIME
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2005
- UK, St Ives, Tate St Ives
THE FIFTIES
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1999
- Spain, Jerez, Sala Pescaderia Vieja, Ayunamiento De Jerez
- Spain, Barcelona, Centre Cultural De La Caixa De Terrassa
- Spain, Salamanca, Palacio De Abrantes
- Netherlands, Amstelveen, Cobra Museum
- Spain, Pamplona, Recinto Ciudadela
- Spain, La Coruna, Fondacion Barrie De La Maza
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1998
- Ireland, Dublin, Royal Hibernian Academy
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1997
- Cyprus, Nicosia, Nicosia Municipal Arts Centre
W BARNS-GRAHAM RETROSPECTIVE 1940-1989
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1990
- Scotland, Ayr, Maclaurin Art Gallery
- Scotland, St Andrews, Crawford Art Centre
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1989
- Scotland, Perth, Perth Museum And Art Gallery
- Scotland, Edinburgh, Edinburgh City Arts Centre
- UK, Penzance, Newlyn Art Gallery
CONTEMPORARY BRITISH PAINTING
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1959
- Mauritius, Mauritius
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1958
- South Africa, Port Elizabeth, King George VI Art Gallery
- Dar Es Salaam
- Rhodesia, Ndola
- Uganda, Kampala, British Council Office - Kampala
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1957
- Kenya, Mombassa, Mombassa
- Kenya, Nairobi, National Gallery And Museum
- Zanzibar
- Blantyre-Limbe
- Moshi
ARTISTES ANGLAIS CONTEMPORAINS
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1952
- France, Macon, Musee Municipal
CONTEMPORARY BRITISH ARTISTS
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1952
- France, France
- Malta, Malta
- British West Indies
