Monday, July 23, 2012

The History of Art in Three Colours


Decided on Saturday to apply gold leaf to back of a small number of 'flowers', which will be sparsely scattered in the installation (hidden, in fact). Was therefore delighted then to see the trailer for an upcoming art documentary The History of Art in Three Colours. The first episode – about Gold – is Wednesday 25th July, the day before Deptford X opens.

"Dr James Fox explores how, in the hands of artists, the colours gold, blue and white have stirred our emotions, changed the way we behave and even altered the course of history. Together these three colours tell an entirely original and surprising story of ourselves and the world we live in."

Dr Fox "brings us the golden splendour of the Pharaohs, the transcendent blues of the Renaissance and the gleaming white marbles of the Enlightenment, as well as forgotten and curious works of genius. As he journeys across the millennia Fox introduces us to the eccentrics, the dreamers and the visionary artists whose works in gold, blue and white will change the way we see the kaleidoscopic world around us."
www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/proginfo/2012/30/history-of-art-in-three-colours.html

I wonder if the short series will mention the use of blue (and white) in the long history of ceramics – the blue came from cobalt rather than Lapis Lazuli...

Local musician David Aylward, who is helping me with the installation, drew my attention to The Wilton Diptych, housed in the National Gallery, painted as a portable altarpiece for the private devotion of King Richard II.
www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/english-or-french-the-wilton-diptych





No comments: