Notes from talk: Marie-Anne McQuay on 'In Here Stands It'

Marie-Anne McQuay talks about the current exhibition, Ivan Seal: In Here Stands It.
Spike Island, 31.10.12

Spike Island are able to offer solo shows and commissions to artists, inviting them to make use of the large exhibition space. They are interested in artists that haven't/ don't usually show in the UK and invite them to exhibit and collaborate in new/ interesting ways (rare opportunities).

Seal has never done a show of this scale before, and is the largest, predominantly painting show that Spike Island has had. Shows last for 6 - 8 weeks at Spike Island.

Seal has worked with director Helen Legg in transforming the layout of the exhibition, altering the trajectory of the viewing space in relation to the paintings.

"He isn't a 'painter' painter". Ivan Seal considers the installation and sculptural aspects of his painting. "An installational-ly hung painting show." Hanging of the paintings have elements of structure in randomness.

There are approximately 50 paintings in the show (half of Seals work). From selections of his work made by Helen, Seal was able to produce new work with corresponding ideas and techniques.

The layout of the paintings in the exhibition have no narratives, although themes can be seen to reoccur and echo throughout the entire space. Seals career as a professional chef are undermined in some of the paintings, provoking ideas of the temporarity of works and their production.

Seal produces his paintings from memories that may be of a person. Elements such as colour or shape are taken from subject and distorted and isolated.

McQuay, M-A, (2012). In Here Stands It - guided talk [talk]. Spike Island. 31 October.


Fear is the mind killer

There is an artist talk with Ivan Seal on Tuesday 20 November, Spike Island.