English Abrasives: Works by the late Joanna Price

About

Opening: Thursday 16th March 6-10pm

Exhibition continues until 26th March.

Joanna Price's work was widely acclaimed and acquired during her lifetime. Exhibited internationally, particularly by her galleries in Germany and Anna Bornholt's gallery in London, her work was also collected by major public collections such as the Arts Council and by private collections such as Charles Saatchi.

This exhibition is a celebration of her work and a chance for the public to see many pieces by Joanna which haven't been exhibited for a number of years.  The exhibition has been curated by her daughters, Bea and Clem Moyes, who have selected works from their private collection of Joanna's work, some of which will be available for sale. 

"An element of the surreal or inexplicable infects the paintings. Masculine bonding and camaraderie, rivalry and double-dealing is meticulously observed, but the familiar becomes strange.  Price resembles an anthropologist studying an exotic tribe, recording its activities faithfully without having the faintest idea of their individual or collective meaning.  Despite an accumulation of detail, the overall picture remains elusive. 

This innocent act of voyeurism is profoundly radical.  The masculine world of work and public affairs has lost its privileged position as the place from which observations and judgements are made.  Under scrutiny, masculine behaviour is revealed as a set of strange rituals governed by alien codes of conduct.  No longer accepted as the norm against which everything else is measured, it is demoted in status from a universal standard to parochial set of practices."

Sarah Kent - from 'Shark-Infested Waters: Young British Art from the 90's Saatchi Collection'

"Joanna Price frequently [made] use of the phrase ‘English Abrasives’ as a generic title for her work.  It summons up an image of elegance and good manners as well as of verbal bullying and suppressed violence. Although she did not admit to a social or psychological interpretation of her satirical vignettes, it is difficult to separate her subject matter from the ruthless business ethic of the late 1980’s and 1990’s."

Judith Bumpas - from Jerwood Prize Shortlist Catalogue
 

*Also on Saturday 25th March there will be a chance to meet the artist's family
(with tea and cake!), from 3 - 6pm.*

Gallery opening hours
Friday 11am-2pm, Saturday and Sunday 11am-6pm
Monday -Thursday by appointment only please call 07715816779