- Venue
- Grindsmith
- Starts
- Monday, March 15, 2010
- Ends
- Sunday, April 11, 2010
- Address
- 6 Hilton Street, Manchester M41NB
- Location
- North West England
Out-staring the Emptiness is an exhibition of new paintings by Philip Elbourne. The paintings consist of monochrome gloss figures on a matt background of the same colour. As such, the paintings respond to the conditions of light around them, seeming from some angles to be completely blank while from others reflecting surrounding colours. As the viewer moves around the painting, the effect changes. Through this physical interaction the viewer is involved in the piece, becoming a participant in the progressive struggle against the emptiness. The unknown is a vast, dark expanse into which the artist stares, attempting to make out some sort of form or meaning. If he stares long enough, the darkness will give in and recede, allowing human understanding to edge forward, however meagrely. It is this fear and fathoming of the emptiness that is addressed in this new series of paintings.“The human mind has gained a new strength by out-staring this emptiness.”
