Exhibition Dates: 13 March – 27 June
Private View: 12 March, 6 – 8pm
Southampton City Art Gallery is delighted to present a retrospective by the acclaimed British painter John Hitchens. Entitled Aspects of Landscape, the exhibition features more than fifty paintings spanning five decades and charts the artist’s journey from descriptive to a unique form of abstract painting.
Hitchens first came to public prominence in the 1960s and 1970s, when his work was represented by the London galleries, Marjorie Parr and Montpelier Studios. Since this period his work has been acquired by many public institutions and private collections in the UK and overseas.
Then as now, his main subject and source of inspiration is the landscape of the British Isles, its hills and field patterns, woodland, sea, the night sky and forms in nature — and the South Downs and woodlands that surround his studio, which he has known since childhood, in particular.
Originally, he depicted landscape pictorially, but from the 1990s onwards, when his practice became more studio based, his work began to lean increasingly towards abstraction. This development was greatly influenced by a period spent photographing landscape elements from the air, which enabled him to gain an awareness of the land as a two-dimensional composition.
Through this, Hichens developed a language entirely his own. While it is at first glance conventionally abstract, closer inspection reveals the circles and patterns of nature. Other elements are revealed, such as the strong earth colours, which have come from observing bands of natural dye colours in hand woven rugs.
Aspects of Landscape, which is arranged over four galleries, includes a display of three-dimensional works, sketchbooks and photographs of the artist’s studio, offering an insight in the range and diversity of Hitchens’ work.
A landmark show — much of his recent work has never been exhibited and remains little known – Aspects of Landscape falls in Hitchens’ eightieth year, and is accompanied by an illustrated catalogue with an essay by Caroline Collier, a former director at Tate, a foreword by art historian Andrew Lambirth, as well as an introductory text by Professor Michael Tucker.
Says Dan Matthews, Collections & Exhibitions Manager at Southampton City Art Gallery: ‘We are honoured to be the first gallery to hold a major retrospective of John Hitchens’ work, whose approach to landscape painting is unique, with bold, abstract patterning and an earthy texture. It is fascinating to see how his work has evolved over the decades and to be able to bring so many paintings together, with some displayed for the first time is incredibly exciting.’
Hitchens is one of four generations of artists in his family. His grandfather Alfred Hitchens and his father Ivon Hitchens were both painters of landscapes.
For press information please contact Albany Arts Communications:
Mark Inglefield
mark@albanyartscommunications.com
t: +44 (0) 20 78 79 88 95; m: + 44 (0) 75 84 19 95 00
Carla von der Becke,
carla@albanyartscommunications.com
t: +44 (0) 20 78 79 88 95; m: +44 (0) 79 74 25 29 94
Notes to Editors:
About the artist
John Hitchens was born in 1940, in Hove, Sussex. He studied at the Bath Academy of Art, Corsham, started exhibiting in the 1960s and had his first London solo exhibition in 1964. He has since shown his work in more than 30 solo and group exhibitions. His work is represented in public and private collections in England and overseas. John Hitchens’ father, Ivon Hitchens (1893–1979) and his grandfather Alfred Hitchens (1861–1942) were also painters. His son Simon Hitchens (b.1967) is a sculptor.
About Southampton City Art Gallery
Southampton City Art Gallery houses an internationally-renowned fine art collection often described as one of the best outside London. The nationally important collections comprise over 5000 art works spanning eight centuries and traces the history of European art from the Renaissance to the present day.
Alongside the collections, a regular programme of temporary exhibitions in collaboration with leading artists and arts institutions are displayed in the stunning art deco building, opened in 1939 by Councillor Robert Chipperfield for the people of Southampton in his adopted city.
Southampton City Art Gallery offers the opportunity to enjoy high quality exhibitions and attracts art-lovers, curious amateurs as well as those who simply enjoy the atmosphere of a gallery.
Southampton City Art Gallery
Commercial Road
Southampton
SO14 7LP
www.southamptoncityartgallery.com
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