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Callum Innes Studio, Oslo, 2020
Innes' practice explores the possibilities of paint on canvas; uninhibited by, yet very aware of, the achievements of the past and the rise of other media, he employs the language of the monochrome, an established format of abstract painting since the 1960s. His paintings are created through a process of addition and subtraction, often removing sections of paint from the canvas surface with turpentine to leave only the faintest traces of what was there before. Using this method he has established his own particular vocabulary in the form of distinctive groups of paintings which evolve concurrently. Through their interdependency he hones his visual fluency, exploring variations of the process of removal.
This viewing room presents three exceptional pieces from two bodies of work: Untitled Lamp Black and Exposed Paintings in which Innes has achieved an intense luminosity through the use of Quinacridone Gold.
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Untitled Lamp Black / Quinacridone Gold
2020Callum Innes’s Untitled Lamp Black / Quinacridone Gold is composed of many layers of paint. In the first instance the entire canvas is painted black - turpentine is then repeatedly applied by brush to remove paint from part of the surface. Innes washes away or as he has described it, “unpaints”, leaving all but the faintest vestigial traces of pigment. The remaining black part of the canvas is then over painted with another colour, resulting in an effect that is both rich and luminous. A play between the additive and subtractive process, making and unmaking, and the sheer enjoyment of paint underlies this very sophisticated body of work. Quinacridone Gold is a warm yellow pigment that Innes has now used for the first time in his paintings.
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Exposed Painting Quinacridone Gold
2020Callum Innes’ works in a number of different ways, all of which are gradually evolving in subtle but constant progression. He has probably become best known for his Exposed Paintings series – made by layering pigments onto the canvas and then removing the oil paint with washes of turpentine. Exposed Painting Quinacridone Gold is created through such a process, here progressive layers of oil paint are applied to a section of the canvas’ surface, creating a dense, black field. The artist then removes a section of this layer to reveal the constituent colours beneath, the residue of this act stains the canvas with veils of pigments.
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Exposed Painting Quinacridone Gold
2020Exposed Painting Quinacridone Gold perfectly exemplifies the inherent process of painting and un-painting behind Callum Innes’ work, where the play between additive and subtractive processes means that the potential for uncertainty is ever present within a rigorous visual language. The element of time is also inscribed in these paintings; from the time involved in the different processes of their making, to the visible traces of those processes, the artist has described his work as ‘freezing a moment in time’. Although process is central to Innes’ aesthetic it is never an end in itself, rather it serves to heighten the luminous effect he achieves.
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Callum Innes
If you would like further information about these works or other works in these series, please email sales@frithstreetgallery.com. Prices do not include VAT.
Viewing Room - Callum Innes
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