what is 97-99
97-99 Bulletin
Brief Encounters
Fresh Paint
Roland Hicks
Ferdinand Penker
Tono Mirai  Keiko Miyata

 
 
 
 
 

Edward Harper   ||  Night Paintings  ||  97-99 Sclater Street  ||  19.02 - 019.03.2000


 
 

Edward HarperŐs night paintings result from a complex process of image creation. He begins by taking photographs of rubbish that has been put out for collection in East London streets near his studio which are scanned into an illustration program and reduced to enclosed areas of flat colour. The image is then projected onto the canvas and the painting emerges from superimposed layers, mirroring the flatness and colours of the printout.

This method emphasises the abstract marks which both create and undermine pictorial space. The calligraphic depiction of shadows and high-lights on bin bags for instance, collapse into biomorphic abstraction while geometric patterns emerge from printed logos, the shapes of mattresses and carrier bags, as well as the repetition of railings, bollards or a security shutter. Stencilled marks, graffiti, scratches and stains punctuate large flat areas of monochrome; walls, a boarded up window, a darkened street.

The work relates painting and urban experience. In the same way that painted marks both create and undermine pictorial space vandalism, rubbish and stains undermine and affirm the systems and logic of the city; graffiti tags and corporate logos; dropped gum, spilt coffee, cola and piss on gridded pavement at Liverpool Street and rubbish - bagged up and neatly stacked.

Harper has exhibited widely in the UK and abroad, including the Gallery of Modern Art, Glasgow, and Painting Lab at the Entwistle Gallery, London. This will be be HarperŐs first solo show and forms part of Fresh Paint, the gallery's painting programme.

 


 

Venue:  97-99  Sclater Street London  E1 UK

Dates:  19th Feb - 19th Mar 2000 ||  Thurs - Sun 1 - 5pm || and by appointment

Opening:  Saturday 19th Feb 2000 ||  7 - 10pm

Press contact:  Alfred Camp  || E.mail: alfred@97-99.com ||  Tel: +44 (0)20-7729 9498
 


 
This exhibition is supported by:

Black Bush Whisky || Greenleaf Hemp Lager || Solé Mineral Water
 


 
Press Information Compiled: 12.02.2000