Wolverhampton Art Gallery
11 April – 27 June 2009

Leading contemporary artist Gerry Judah challenges us to explore our understanding of war, conflict, peace, natural disasters and devastation in a solo exhibition, COUNTRY at Wolverhampton Art Gallery. The exhibition is co-curated by Independent Curator Jenny Blyth, and Kate Pryor-Williams, Exhibitions Curator.

Gerry Judah’s work is a direct response to landscapes of destruction whether the result of war or climate change. His paintings are inspired by conflict – particularly in the Middle East whether Iraq, Afghanistan or Gaza, articulating global concerns for the environment and the decimation that follows natural disasters such as the flooding of New Orleans in 2005, and the recent Australian bushfires. He recreates scenes of ruinous settlements that we witness daily as reported by the media. Urban landscapes, constructed from scores of buildings, complete with internal structures, communication wires and water towers are fixed onto canvas, and then systematically destroyed. The ensuing rubble and detritus are fused onto a background of empty white canvas with layers of acrylic gesso to create ‘white on white’ and ‘black on black’ abstract paintings.

Concerned with the rupture of place, lives and architecture by violence, Judah’s epic landscapes have an unearthly quality, where dove-grey shadows and segments of light created by the relief work are played out across the canvas as if it were a lunar landscape. With a delicate poetic tone, he invokes a palpable presence of absence. Judah wants viewers to experience the ghostly complexities of the present without a past and no apparent future. Whether these scenes are a result of war or natural disaster, they remind us of our vulnerability, and force us to consider solutions.

Head of Curatorial Services, Marguertie Nugent, said,

‘We are extremely excited to be exhibiting the recent works of Gerry Judah. Both thought provoking and provocative, the series COUNTRY shows Gerry Judah as a contemporary artist reacting to current International politics and environmental affairs. His paintings are overwhelming and disturbing yet beautifully intricate, displaying both absorbing and immersive qualities.’

She continues,

‘COUNTRY also links directly to our existing Northern Ireland and Contemporary Collection displays at Wolverhampton Art Gallery which alongside this exhibition address issues of global conflict and International politics.’

The exhibition will be launched on 23 April 2009, 5.30pm – 8pm in conjunction with Andy Warhol Paintings and Posters.

Born in Calcutta, India, Gerry Judah studied at Barnet College of Art before obtaining a First Class degree in Fine Art at Goldsmiths College and post-graduate Sculpture at the Slade School of Fine Art, University College London. In the last twenty years, Judah has built a reputation for innovative designs for films, television, theatre, museums and spectacular public installations for many clients. He has also exhibited in a number of exhibitions including the Whitechapel Art Gallery, Camden Arts Centre and Yorkshire Sculpture Park and his work has entered many public and private collections.

Gerry Judah lives and works in London.

ENDS

Media Contacts:
Suzanne Noble @ Stunning PR, Tel: 0203 355 1529/07957 371840 or suzanne@stunningpr.com

Notes to Editors:

• Wolverhampton Art Gallery is open Monday – Saturday, 10.00am – 5.00pm. Free Entry.

• Further information regarding Gerry Judah can be seen at www.gerryjudah.com

• The title COUNTRY must be referred to in capital letters only.

• Gerry Judah is represented by Jenny Blyth Fine Art. Jenny Blyth has worked with Judah since 2005 on a number of projects including Frontiers (2005), Angels (2006) and Motherlands (2007). She is an independent curator and art consultant based in London and was previously a curator at the Saatchi Gallery from 1990 to 2002.

• Wolverhampton Art Gallery is part of Wolverhampton Arts + Museums service, funded by Wolverhampton City Council. It receives additional funding as a Regularly Funded Organisation of Arts Council England and from the Museums, Libraries Archives Council through Renaissance in the Regions West Midlands.

• Renaissance is the Museums, Libraries and Archives (MLA) Council’s £150million programme to transform England’s regional museums. For the first time ever, investment from central government is helping regional museums across the country to raise their standards and deliver real results in support of education, learning, community development and economic regeneration. A network of ‘Hubs’ has been set up in each English region to act as flagship museums and help promote good practice. Alongside the Hubs, MLA Regional Agencies and Museum Development Officers are providing advice and support, Subject Specialist Networks have been set up, and national museums are sharing their skills and collections to ensure Renaissance benefits the entire museums sector. Renaissance is helping museums to meet people’s changing needs – and to change people’s lives.

• Arts Council England works to get great art to everyone by championing, developing and investing in artistic experiences that enrich people’s lives. As the national development agency for the arts, we support a range of artistic activities from theatre to music, literature to dance, photography to digital art, and carnival to crafts. Great art inspires us, brings us together and teaches us about ourselves, and the world around us. In short, it makes life better. Between 2008 and 2011, we will invest £1.3 billion of public money from government and a further £0.3 billion from the National Lottery to create these experiences for as many people as possible across the country.

Tags: contemporary art, Gerry Judah, Wolverhampton Art Gallery