Ian Davenport “Doubletake”

Ian Davenport “Doubletake”

Paul Kasmin Gallery

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Paul Kasmin Gallery presents Doubletake, an exhibition of new paintings by Ian Davenport. This will be his first solo show at the gallery since 2013. Doubletake comprises a selection of new and recent paintings conveying the coloristic essence of old master paintings through his unique and familiar technique: vertical poured acrylic paint on aluminum-panel-mounted stainless steel, known as his puddle paintings. Davenport’s work is abstract, reflecting an ongoing preoccupation with the materiality of paint and the process of painting, but at the same time is he able to convey a subliminal equivalent of the original source, in an homage to the old masters.

The palette in each of the new paintings on view is inspired by a particular canonical work of art. The subliminal effect can be seen clearly in (title tbd), referencing “The Church in Auvers-sur-Oise, View from the Chevet”, 1890 by Vincent Van Gogh with the rich blues of the sky, the beige and greens from the lawn and path, and the reds from the roof of the structure. Other referenced works include paintings by Perugino, as well as “Mada Primavesi” 1912, by Gustav Klimt, and “The Marriage of the Virgin” 1504, by Raffael Sanzio. Davenport uses the colors as a reference point to initiate his own color sequences and explorations of movement, surface and light. In his new body of work, Davenport questions how different chromatic weights can occupy a background, as well as the vertical rhythm achieved by compressing and interweaving colors of various widths. By using a large syringe to drip acrylic paint onto aluminum and stainless steel panels, Davenport creates his celebrated studies of color with precision and elegance.

Davenport (b. 1966, Kent), studied at Goldsmiths College of Art in London from 1985 to 1988, and graduated with a B.A in Fine Art. In the same year, he exhibited in the Damien Hirst curated Freeze exhibition which first brought together many of the later-to-be Young British Artists. In 1991, he was nominated for the annual Turner Prize. Davenport has exhibited internationally, including solo exhibitions at Xippas Galleries in Geneva (2015); Dan Galeria, Saõ Paulo (2015); Galerie Flore, Brussels (2015); Waddington Custot Galleries in London (2014); Art Plural Gallery LTD in Singapore (2012), and in group shows such as the Royal Academy, UK (2015). His work is to be found in major collections worldwide, such as the Tate Gallery, London; the Weltkunst Collection, Zurich; Arts Council Collection, London; Borusan Art Gallery, Istanbul; The British Council; Daimler Chrysler Collection, Stuttgart and the Dallas Museum of Art, Texas. The artist lives and works in London.

Media

• Painting

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