Gary Wragg. Constant Within The Change, Circuits & Edges

GARY WRAGG

Constant Within The Change

Circuits & Edges

19 November – 5 December 2014

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22 Mason’s Yard Duke Street St. James’s London SW1Y 6BU United Kingdom

T: +44 (0)20 7930 1262 F: +44 (0)20 7839 8043 E: [email protected] W: alanwheatleyart.com

Circuits & Edges

The poetic dialogue of centre to edge has flourished throughout the history of art, from the Egyptians to “The Book of Kells”, to

Persian and Indian Miniature paintings, up to a certain particularity in Matisse’s use of the border in his paintings and the great

late “Cut-outs”, to the superb edge paintings of Jules Olitski and Sam Francis in the 1960s and 1970s.

The modest selection of paintings in my forthcoming third one-person show at Alan Wheatley Art will describe the transition in

my recent work from “Circuits” to “Edges”. These themes have been a periodic preoccupation throughout earlier decades, and

continue for me now well into the sixth decade of my life as a painter. The recent paintings continue on from the last works

illustrated in the second volume of Constant Within The Change, published in March 2014 and celebrated with the retrospective

exhibition at Clifford Chance, Canary Wharf, London.

In my work abstract painting means the avoidance of a brand image, and instead the pursuit or investigation of disparate

pictorial means of “Now” states of being. What you see is what is there, it is not something else. This is what I revere, sensations

and activities playing around, flowing around, images without formula, that are capable of contradiction. The sensing and sensual

processes of my painting forage fresh presences and juxtapositions not restricted by categorization. The titles of the works in the

show arise mostly from snippets of Emile Zola’s novel “L’Assommoir”.

The recent paintings focus particularly on the function of central and peripheral perception, incorporating the spontaneous

application of paint to echo edge gestures, sometimes as a reflection amidst the central traversing of brush marks. I have a need

for my painting to achieve a certain kind of totality, a freshness and illumination of paint, light, colour, gesture, surface and space.

While I paint, there is a focus on an accurate meeting of stillness and movement that ultimately vies with my intuitive impulses

and the connected-disconnected feelings that may occur. Various intrigues sometimes emerge: how a pure colour can be echoed

in a canvas; how a mixed colour can ignite an otherwise static combination to create a particular kind of liveliness. An inquiring

activity suffuses a contradictory repose, just as painting itself comprises the two impossible complimentary opposites of flat

surface and illusionary space, to be united as one, neither taking precedence over the other.

Gary Wragg

October 2014

1

Rue Gambetta

2007-2010

Oil on canvas

211 x 168 cm / 83 x 66 inches

Literature: Constant Within The Change: Gary Wragg: Five Decades of Paintings: A Comprehensive Catalogue, Sansom & Co. Ltd.., London, 2014, ill.p.163.

2

Le Cannet

2007-2013

Oil on canvas

211 x 168 cm / 83 x 66 inches


3

From Black 2

2009-2014

Oil and oil-stick on canvas

120 x 100 cm / 47 x 39 ½ inches

4

Blue / Yellow Streak

2010-2013


170 x 152 cm / 67 x 60 inches


5

Pink, Blue & Green Wedges

2012-2014

Acrylic on canvas

220 x 169 cm / 86 ½ x 66 ½ inches

6

Elgin Re-visited

2013-2014

Charcoal and acrylic on linen

190.5 x 90 cm / 75 x 35 ½ inches

7

Four Corners, Two Circuits

2012


79 x 99 cm / 31 x 39 inches


8

Four Corners, Blue / Orange Circuits

2012


79 x 99 cm / 31 x 39 inches


9

Speckled Pink – They All Clinked Glasses Again

2014

Oil on canvas

90 x 71 cm / 36 x 28 inches

10

Strolling in the Sunshine – Yellow Green Edges

2014

Oil on canvas

90 x 71 cm / 36 x 28 inches

11

Three Reds – Friendship is Friendship and Nothing to Beat It

2014

Oil on canvas

90 x 71 cm / 36 x 28 inches

12

Rolling Blues

2014

Oil on canvas

80 x 60 cm / 31 ½ x 23 ½ inches

13

Green Black – No Beginning No End

2014

Oil on canvas

80 x 60 cm / 31 ½ x 23 ½ inches

14

Butterfly Wedges

2014

Oil on canvas

80 x 60 cm / 31 ½ x 23 ½ inches

15

Red Edges - Pincushioned

2014

Oil on canvas

80 x 60 cm / 31 ½ x 23 ½ inches

16

Sonic Triangle

2013-2014

Oil on canvas

80 x 60 cm / 31 ½ x 23 ½ inches

17

Pilanch

2014

Oil on canvas

80 x 60 cm / 31 ½ x 23 ½ inches

18

Grelanch

2013-2014

Oil on canvas

76 x 61 cm / 30 x 24 inches

19

Centre Twist

2014

Oil on canvas-board

76 x 51 cm / 30 x 20 inches

20

Yellow Orange Edges – Out on the Streets

2014

Oil on canvas

60 x 49.5 cm / 23 ½ x 19 ½ inches

21

Blue Diagonal Twist

2014

Oil on canvas

60 x 49.5 cm / 23 ½ x 19 ½ inches

22

Green Yellow Red Edges – Spring Came

2014

Oil on canvas

60 x 49.5 cm / 23 ½ x 19 ½ inches

23

Magenta, Green & Black Edges – Nothing Left to Fear

2014

Oil on canvas

60 x 49.5 cm / 23 ½ x 19 ½ inches

24

Yellow Green Pink & Blue Edges – Haven of Idleness & Enjoyment

2014

Oil on canvas

60 x 49.5 cm / 23 ½ x 19 ½ inches

25

Ultramarine Magenta Gamboge & Black Edges – Everyone Should Have Some Privacy

2014

Oil on canvas

60 x 49.5 cm / 23 ½ x 19 ½ inches

26

Bottle Green Centre – Tipped Him the Wink

2014

Oil on canvas

60 x 49.5 cm / 23 ½ x 19 ½ inches

27

Black & Yellow Corner

2014

Oil on canvas

60 x 30 cm / 23 ½ x 11 ¾ inches

28

Orange Purple Yellow – When It Didn’t Put Anyone Out

2014

Oil on canvas

60 x 30 cm / 23 ½ x 11 ¾ inches

29

Green Red Lilac Up Down

2014

Oil on canvas

60 x 30 cm / 23 ½ x 11 ¾ inches

30

Pink Green Grey White Edge – Calm Went On

2012-2014

Oil on canvas

51 x 40.5 cm / 20 x 16 inches

31

Blue Centre Yellow Edge - Badingue

2012-2014

Oil on canvas

51 x 40.5 cm / 20 x 16 inches

32

Green Orange Red – A Stately Tread

2014

Oil on canvas

51 x 40.5 cm / 20 x 16 inches

33

Lilac Yellow – Good Health

2012-2014

Oil on canvas

51 x 40.5 cm / 20 x 16 inches

34

Blue Yellow – Again Between

2012-2014

Oil on canvas

51 x 40.5 cm / 20 x 16 inches

35

Green Yellow & White Circuit

2013

Oil on canvas

29 x 39.5 cm / 12 x 15 ½ inches

36

Orange Double White Circuit

2012-2014

Oil on canvas

29 x 39.5 cm / 12 x 15 ½ inches

37

Triple White Wedge Circuit

2012-2014

Oil on canvas

29 x 39.5 cm / 12 x 15 ½ inches

38

White Blue Double Circuit

2012-2014

Oil on canvas

29 x 39.5 cm / 12 x 15 ½ inches

INDEX

1 Rue Gambetta 2007-2010 Oil 211 x 168 cm

2 Le Cannet 2007-2013 Oil 211 x 168 cm

3 From Black 2 2009- 2014 Oil and oil-stick 120 x 100 cm

4 Blue / Yellow Streak 2010-2013 Oil and oil-stick 170 x 152 cm

5 Pink, Blue & Green Wedges 2012-2014 Acrylic 220 x 169 cm

6 Elgin Re-visited 2013-2014 Charcoal and acrylic 190.5 x 90 cm

7 Four Corners, Two Circuits 2012 Oil and oil-stick 79 x 99 cm

8 Four Corners, Blue / Orange Circuits 2012 Oil and oil-stick 79 x 99 cm

9 Speckled Pink - They All Clinked Glasses Again 2014 Oil 90 x 71 cm

10 Strolling in the Sunshine - Yellow Green Edges 2014 Oil 90 x 71 cm

11 Three Reds - Friendship is Friendship and Nothing to Beat It 2014 Oil 90 x 71 cm

12 Rolling Blues 2014 Oil 80 x 60 cm

13 Green Black - No Beginning No End 2014 Oil 80 x 60 cm

14 Butterfly Wedges 2014 Oil 80 x 60 cm

15 Red Edges - Pincushioned 2014 Oil 80 x 60 cm

16 Sonic Triangle 2013-2014 Oil 80 x 60 cm

17 Pilanch 2014 Oil 80 x 60 cm

18 Grelanch 2013-2014 Oil 76 x 61 cm

19 Centre Twist 2014 Oil 76 x 51 cm

20 Yellow Orange Edges - Out on the Streets 2014 Oil 60 x 49.5 cm

21 Blue Diagonal Twist 2014 Oil 60 x 49.5 cm

22 Green Yellow Red Edges - Spring Came 2014 Oil 60 x 49.5 cm

23 Magenta Green & Black Edges - Nothing Left To Fear 2014 Oil 60 x 49.5 cm

24 Yellow Green Pink & Blue Edges -

Haven of Idleness & Enjoyment 2014 Oil 60 x 49.5 cm

25 Ultramarine Magenta Gamboge & Black Edges -

Everyone Should Have Some Privacy 2014 Oil 60 x 49.5 cm

26 Bottle Green Centre - Tipped Him the Wink 2014 Oil 60 x 49.5 cm

27 Black & Yellow Corner 2014 Oil 60 x 30 cm

28 Orange Purple Yellow - When It Didn't Put Anyone Out 2014 Oil 60 x 30 cm

29 Green Red Lilac Up Down 2014 Oil 60 x 30 cm

30 Pink Green Grey White Edge - Calm Went On 2012-2014 Oil 51 x 40.5 cm

31 Blue Centre Yellow Edge - Badingue 2012-2014 Oil 51 x 40.5 cm

32 Green Orange Red - A Stately Tread 2014 Oil 51 x 40.5 cm

33 Lilac Yellow - Good Health 2012-2014 Oil 51 x 40.5 cm

34 Blue Yellow - Again Between 2012-2014 Oil 51 x 40.5 cm

35 Green Yellow & White Circuit 2013 Oil 30 x 39.5 cm

36 Orange Double White Circuit 2012-2014 Oil 30 x 39.5 cm

37 Triple White Wedge Circuit 2012-2014 Oil 30 x 39.5 cm

38 White Blue Double Circuit 2012-2014 Oil 30 x 39.5 cm

39 Here to Here, Red Autumn 2013 Acrylic 19.5 x 19.5 cm

BIOGRAPHY

Gary Wragg, born in 1946, first attended the High Wycombe School of Art before moving to London. There he studied at

Camberwell School of Arts and Crafts, where he won a Rotary Travelling Prize to Florence and Rome as well as the Lord Carron

Prize awarded by Bryan Robertson. He continued post-graduate painting at the Slade School of Fine Art and won a Boise

Travelling Scholarship to USA and Mexico, which he took in 1972. He also received an Arts Council grant in 1975 and a London

Arts Association grant in 1978.

Wragg’s trips to America, first to New York and Provincetown to visit Jack Tworkov, between 1971 and 1974, and time he spent

in Springs, East Hampton with Willem de Kooning in 1985, were highly significant in his artistic development.

His first one man exhibition was held at Acme Gallery, London in 1976, with a subsequent successful show in 1979.

He exhibited regularly at the Nicola Jacobs Gallery, London, between 1980 and 1989 and held a series of important solo and

group exhibitions at Flowers East, London, between 1996 and 2010.

In his work Wragg explores from what he calls his ‘treasure chest’, a traditional lineage of Poussin, Titian, Rubens, Goya,

Delacroix, Cézanne, Bonnard, Matisse, Pollock and de Kooning.

Since the late seventies Wragg’s love for painting has integrated with his passion for the Chinese martial art of Tai Chi Chuan.

Wragg has found that the gestures and controlled movements of the discipline have formed a parallel in the painting and his

work has subsequently evolved from the vocabulary and legacy of Abstract Expressionism to his investigation of energy painting.

TEACHING / LECTURING

1971-1988 Portsmouth Polytechnic

1971-1996 Visiting Lecturer at Chelsea School of Art, London; Slade School of Art, London; Bath Academy of Art, Bath

1972-1993 Camberwell School of Arts and Crafts, London

1975-1997 St. Martin's School of Art, London

1994-1995 Slade School of Fine Art, London

1995 Tate Education Department Special Projects: A Dialogue with de Kooning, Tate, London

1996 Tate Education Department Special Projects: Figuring Cézanne, Tate, London

1996 Tate Education Department Special Projects: Jackson Pollock Exhibition, Tate, London

1998-2003 Artist Summer Residence, The Painting School of Montmiral, Castelnau de Montmiral, S.W. France

1999 Drawing Masterclass, Classic Cézanne Exhibition, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia

2001 Cézanne Lecture, Newcastle University

2004 Drawing Marathon, Studio School, New York, USA

2004-2008 Annual Studio Drawathon, Vyner Street, London

2005 Artist in Residence, Alayrac, France

2009 Annual Studio Drawathon, Epping Upland, Essex

2011-2014 Annual Studio Drawathon, Epping Upland, Essex

SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS

1976 Acme Gallery, London

1978 Newcastle Polytechnic Art Gallery

1979 Acme Gallery, London

Peterloo Gallery, Manchester

1982 Nicola Jacobs Gallery, London

1983 Herbert Art Gallery, Coventry


Castlefield Gallery, Manchester


1989 Jean Wainwright, Chiswick, London

Open Studio, Hackney, London

Studio Show, West Hampstead, London

1990 Goldsmiths Gallery, London

Studio Show, West Hampstead, London

1991 Gallery 10, London

1993 Studio Show, West Hampstead, London

1994 Studio Show, West Hampstead, London

1996 Works on Paper, Gallery M, Flowers East, London

1997 Flowers East, London


King Street Gallery, Sydney, Australia

2000 The Quiet Paintings, Flowers East, London

2003 Flowers Central, London

Studio Show, Vyner Street, London

2006 Burgh House, Hampstead, London


Mason’s Yard Gallery, London

2010 Early Works 1968-1969, Alan Wheatley Art, London

2012 Spontaneity of Movement, Alan Wheatley Art, London

2014 Constant Within The Change, Clifford Chance, London

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS

1969 Play Orbit, ICA, London

1971 Young Contemporaries, Royal Academy of Arts, London

1974 British Painting 1974, Hayward Gallery, London

1977 British Painting 1952-77, Royal Academy of Arts, London

1978 Summer Exhibition, Royal Academy of Arts, London

1979 Hayward Annual, Hayward Gallery, London

1980 Three British Artists, Studio Marconi, Milan, Italy

7 British Artists, Bernard Jacobson Gallery, New York, USA

1982 Sydney Biennial, Australia

Contemporary Choice, Serpentine Gallery, London

Hayward Annual, Hayward Gallery, London

1983 Younger British Artists, Warwick Arts Centre, London

1984 English Expressionism, Warwick Arts Centre, London

Spuren und Zeichen, 200th Anniversary of Trier, Germany

1985 30 London Painters, Royal Academy of Arts, London

1991 John Moores Exhibition, Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool

London Group, Royal College of Art, London

1995 A Dialogue with de Kooning, Royal College of Art, London

London Group Biennial Exhibition, Barbican, London

1999 A Personal View of British Painting & Sculpture

(curated by Bryan Robertson), Kettle’s Yard, Cambridge

2001 Art Crazy Nation (curated by Matthew Collings),

Milton Keynes Gallery, Milton Keynes

Art of the 20th Century, Flowers, New York, USA

John Moores Exhibition, Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool

2010 The Art of Giving, Saatchi Gallery, London

2011 Summer Exhibition, Royal Academy of Arts, London

2014 The Social Basis of Abstract Art, Up Down Gallery, Ramsgate

Small Is Beautiful, Flowers Gallery, New York, USA

PUBLIC COLLECTIONS

Arts Council of Great Britain

Barclays de Zoete Wedd, London

Contemporary Arts Society, London

DeBeers Consolidated Mines, London

Eastern Arts Association, Leicester

The Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge

Leicestershire Education Committee, Glenfield

National Gallery of South Africa, Cape Town, South Africa

Pompidou Centre, Paris, France

Royal Holloway, University of London, Egham

Saatchi Collection, London

Slade School of Art Collection, London

St. Pancras Library, London

University College, London

Victoria & Albert Museum, London

39

Here to Here, Red Autumn

2013

Acrylic on canvas

19.5 x 19.5 cm / 7 ¾ x 7 ¾ inches

Front cover: Blue / Yellow Streak (cat. 4)

Published to accompany the exhibition Gary Wragg: Constant Within The Change: Circuits & Edges, 19 November – 5 December 2014

© ALAN WHEATLEY ART, 22 Mason’s Yard, Duke Street St. James’s, London SW1Y 6BU

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form

or by any means without first seeking the written permission of the copyright holders and of the publisher.

Artworks © Gary Wragg

Photography © Gary Wragg

Catalogue design by Iwona Chroscielewska

____________________________________________________________________________________________________

22 Mason’s Yard Duke Street St. James’s London SW1Y 6BU United Kingdom

T: +44 (0)20 7930 1262 F: +44 (0)20 7839 8043 E: [email protected] W: alanwheatleyart.com

Documents

Gary Wragg. Constant Within The Change, Circuits & Edges