Chris Jennings
Attachments and Separations
Opening view: Friday 1st February 2008, 6 - 8pm
2 February to 8 March 2008
Attachments and Separations is the title given to a new and ongoing series of paintings by Chris Jennings which are also the focus of the artist’s first solo exhibition since 2001. Like much of Jennings’ art produced over the past decade, this striking body of work concerns itself with the artist’s fascination with relationships between line, colour and space and the representation of absence and presence. However, where Jennings has previously used the illusionary power of colour and line to explore the dynamics of space both within and without paintings, this new series of works, in which canvases are “conjoined and juxtaposed” and are presented at an angle to the wall, bring to the fore a new sculptural element.
Although he describes himself as a painter, Jennings has over the past four decades frequently ventured into working in other media, including photography, installation, text, music and films. Given that many of his initial ideas and concepts for paintings have over the years come from preparatory studies made as small wooden maquettes, to enable what he describes as “an immediate and tactile handling of space”, it is perhaps inevitable that Jennings’ sometimes latent use of sculpture has now been married to his painting practice.
This exhibition also affords audiences an opportunity to view Jennings’ most recent paintings alongside those produced during the past decade and to engage with elements of his all-important preparatory works. Jennings’ practice is as complex as it is measured and, its longevity speaks volumes for an artist who still possesses such a profound sense of commitment and integrity to his work.
A free illustrated colour brochure, featuring a newly commissioned text by artist David Howells, accompanies this exhibition [ISBN 978-1-899764-93-8].
Biography
Chris Jennings was born in Buckinghamshire in1942. He studied at St Martins
School of Art, London (1959– 61), St Albans School of Art (1961–63)
and The Royal College of Art (1963– 66). In 2004, he received his PhD.
from London Metropolitan University. His numerous group and solo exhibitions
include:
Boustrophedon,Trinity College of Music, London and Princeton University,
USA, 1998; Rentree, Stanley Picker Gallery, Kingston University, 1999; Box
Project, Museum of Installation (and touring); Chris Jennings, Galerie Sapet,
Mirmande, France; Rentree 2, Stanley Picker Gallery, Kingston University,
London, 2000; Retrospective/Selected
works ‘Scrutiny
and Immanence’, Stanley Picker Gallery, Kingston University, London,
2001. His monograph, ‘Scrutiny
and Immanence: Selected Work of Chris Jennings’ with a text by Dore
Ashton, was published in 2001. His work has featured in two editions of the
review La Part de l’Oeil
published in Brussels: ‘Art et Phenomenologie’, 1991 and, ‘Wittgenstein
et l’Aesthetique’,
1992. His works are held in various private collections in the UK, France,
Holland, Germany, Belgium and Australia. His work is also included in the
Arts Council England collection. His series of drawings, Meniscus, are held
in the collection of the Department of Prints and Drawings at the British
Museum. He is currently Senior Lecturer in the Department of Art, Media and
Design, London Metropolitan University, London.
He lives in London.
Opening Times: Tuesday - Friday 12 - 6pm and Saturday 1- 6pm
Admission: Free Opening View: Friday 1 February 2008, 6 - 8pm
Exhibition: 2 February – 8 March 2008
