CRIES & WHISPERS NEW WORKS FOR THE BRITISH COUNCIL COLLECTION
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In a letter dated June 1987, the artist wrote ‘Let’s not talk about what the painting means but instead about how it might function, which may or may not lead us to some kind of meaning. The rubbing together of disparate or apparently unconnected elements, images, words, creates, one hopes, unsuspected and unpredictable meanings. Of course, I always have a particular direction in which to aim, but aiming with clarity is not so easy these days – clarity might be fiction caught sight of out of the corner of one’s eyes.’ Durward then goes to quote approvingly, with reference to this painting, J. G. Ballard’s definition ‘a science fiction is seen in the form of dreams set in real time’, and continues ‘So what is the fiction or reality behind the Chinese girl with the stigmata? Is it a confirmation or denial of the fact that American does indeed exist when one has never seen it? How do we see America? Both these girls are transparent and bleeding … The figure of the Chinese girl with the stigmata creates a shocking conjunction between two disparate cultures, making a statement which, while clearly a fiction on one level, by the strength of the double negative on a symbolic level has a certain reality. The ‘transparency’ of the figures puts into doubt the function of representation. The confrontation concepts of ‘Woman, Communist, Chinese, versus Western Capitalism, the American Patriarchy’ conjures up the suggestion of a hall of mirrors from which the subject has disappeared.’
Cries & Whispers New Works for the British Council Collection 1988
- Accession Number P5433
- Dimensions 183.5 X 168 CM
- Media OIL ON CANVAS
Glossary (2)
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Negative
An image in which colours and shades of an inage are reversed: the light areas of the object appear dark and the dark areas appear light. Also refers to a film, plate, or other photographic material containing such an image.
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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.
Theme
Past exhibitions
CRIES & WHISPERS NEW WORKS FOR THE BRITISH COUNCIL COLLECTION
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1996
- Mexico, Guadalajara, Instituto Cultural Cabanas
- Mexico, Mexico City, Museo De Arte Moderno, Galeria De Exposiciones Temporales
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1995
- Colombia, Colombia
- Peru, Lima, Peru
- Ecuador, Ecuador
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1993
- Philippines, Manila, Culture Center Of The Phillpines
- Malaysia, Penang, Penang State Museum And Art Gallery
- Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, National Art Gallery
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1992
- Spain, Las Palmas, San Antonio Abad Gallery
- Spain, Salamanca, Salamanca University
- Spain, Zamora, Casa De La Cultura
- Spain, Barcelona, Centre Cultural De La Caixa De Terrassa
- Spain, Palma De Mallorca, Centro Cultural 'sa Nostra'
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1991
- Spain, Madrid, Centro Cultural Galileo
- Spain, Madrid, Centro Cultural Galileo
- Spain, Cadiz, Ayuntamiento De Jerez
- Spain, Bilbao, Museo De Bellas Artes De Bilbao
- Spain, Valencia, Galeria Ambiente Cero
- Spain, Leon, Caja De Ahorros
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1989
- New Zealand, Hamilton, Centre For Contemporary Art
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1988
- Australia, Melbourne, Heide Park And Art Gallery
- Australia, Shepparton, Shepparton Art Gallery
- Australia, Newcastle, Newcastle Region Art Gallery
