Some information about the idea behind THE WINTER SALON. This exhibition pays homage to the now outdated European salon hanging tradition. Being an art historian and a new arrival in Perth I wanted to start the life of The Long Gallery with this show as salon hangs were the original, and primary, method for an artist to thrive in history of European art. In the heyday of the eighteenth century when the Salon dictated the progression of the visual arts, of which painting was held in the highest regard, an artist’s only hope of recognition as a professional artist rested largely on their participation, and success, in Salon exhibitions. These large group exhibitions not only provided a platform for artists to showcase their talents but also a marvelous social occasion for those members of high society who reveled in the social hubbub created by the shows. The salon hang was also a fierce game for the artists, who fought for their works to be hung at eye level. Those who had been “skied”, hung near the top of an often 5 metre high room, took serious offence as their work would not be noticed amongst the thousands of pictures displayed. The salon tradition soon became outmoded in the twentieth century as artist began to break away from the restrictive grapples of the Salon, who favoured the ancién regime over the newer styles emerging. The Impressionists were the first major group of artists to break away from the Salon and hosted their own exhibitions and shows, with the Cubists and Surrealists following suit. As such the salon hang was replaced by the simple linear style of hanging which has become the norm in galleries worldwide today. The salon hang was revived by Christopher Le Brun, co-coordinator of the 2011 Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, and he controversially promoted this traditional hanging style for this iconic annual show. Hanging works in such close proximity to one another can be alarming for the modern artist and viewer, however Le Brun champions this: I see it as a feast for the eye, but it’s also a kind of battle of the paintings because you see profoundly different artistic personalities side by side. The salon on show at The Long Gallery seeks to create a similar ‘feast’ which embraces a variety of techniques, mediums, genres and styles of art. In doing so it makes looking at art a dense and full experience and gives the viewer freedom to make their way through the exhibition. The works on show celebrate the beauty of Western Australia but also seeks to embrace the ever-evolving mediums and techniques of the contemporary art world. From egg tempera paintings to those crafted from milk bottle lids, this salon celebrates the beauty, possibility and variety of art.
Posted on: Fri, 05 Jul 2013 04:47:38 +0000