29th April – 27th May 2023
The Subversive Landscape presents works by artists who deconstruct, recontextualise or subvert the landscape, but who are not necessarily thought of as landscape artists.
Best known for painting obsessive and photo realistic recreations of images from national newspaper obituaries, Hugh Mendes on this occasion dons his curator’s hat and takes inspiration from Cornwall’s effortless beauty, breath-taking vistas, and sea views to present an exhibition which pays tribute to a generally formal practice, the landscape. Given Mendes’ playful nature, he presents an exhibition brimming with artists who manipulate this form; turning it upside down, seeing it not as a means to an end but a means to a beginning and in turn exploring something else completely.
A multi-media exhibition that features paintings, prints, sculpture and time-based video pieces, The Subversive Landscape is the first time Tremenheere has exhibited works from Aqua Oscura; James Turrell’s series of etchings that depict images from his work of the same name and that is permanently sited at Tremenheere.
Speaking about the show, exhibition curator Hugh Mendes says:
‘Having been asked to curate a show at the beautiful Tremenhere Sculpture Gardens in Cornwall, I thought the exhibition should refer to the landscape, but not necessarily be a traditional landscape show. I thought about artists I currently work with and ones I’ve worked with previously, who refer to the landscape in very diverse and unusual ways. All the artists I have invited are well known to me and I have followed their practice over many years, apart from James Turrell. However, as James Turrell has two works permanently sited at Tremenheere that seek to subvert and reframe the landscape this fits the theme very well.’
Tremenheere Gallery is open Tuesday – Saturday, 11am – 4pm. Closed Sundays and Mondays. The exhibition will be launched with an opening event on Friday 28th April, 6 – 8pm – All welcome to attend. Free entry, with many of the works available to purchase.
The Subversive Landscape is a group exhibition and features works by the following artists: Fiona Banner aka The Vanity Press, Michael Landy, James Turrell, Amikam Toren, Gordon Cheung, Fleur and Ali Mackie, Rob and Nicky Carter, Robin Mason, Alex Gene Morrison, Kiera Bennett, Andrew Grassie, Reece Jones, Adam Dix, Hugh Mendes, Lucy Willow, Lee Maelzer, Roger Thorp, Jesse Leroy Smith, Kirsty Harris, Dan Hays, Liane Lang.
Image: James Turrell, Winter Aqua Oscura, polymer gravure etching, paper size: h. 84.5 x w. 119.5 cm, image size: h. 73 x w. 109 cm, edition of 30, published by Paupers Press.