Christopher Le Brun, UBS Openings, 80's paintings at the Tate Modern to 13 Apr 09

Exhibition Description:

This exhibition will offer a new opportunity to re-appraise Neo-Expressionist painting a quarter of a century after its emergence. Drawing on works from the UBS and Tate collections, Paintings from the 1980s, will bring together eleven large-scale works by the key international painters who were at the forefront of this new form of figurative painting.

Neo-Expressionism marks the return to figurative painting after a period in which public preference had been dominated by minimalist and conceptual practices. These artists defied the frequently predicted ‘death of painting’ to bring together conceptual ideas and personal imagery. Their works resulted in extremely powerful, figurative, large-scale paintings that made complex references to history and tradition, yet retained their immediacy through rapidly executed brush-work and vivid colours.

Description:

The UBS Openings will bring together significant works made in the period 1980-5, including Basquiat's Tobacco Versus Red Chief1981-2, a critical comment on urban culture and history, Schnabel's HumanityAsleep 1982 painted over a surface of broken crockery, and Clemente's Self Portrait 1984, a recurring theme that the artist has consistently explored throughout his career. It will be curated by Matthew Gale, Head of Displays, Curator (Modern Art), Tate Modern.

Image: Christopher Le Brun
Dream, Think, Speak 1981-2
TATE COLLECTION © Christopher Le Brun

Full Contact Details:

Tate Britain
Level 3
Admission £7
Opening hours:
Tate Britain is open daily, 10.00-17.50
Exhibitions 10.00-17.40 (last admission 17.00)
Late night opening on the first Friday of each month - last admission 21.00
Public information number: 020 7887 8888.