exhibitions
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RIGHT Francis Bacon, Study for Bullfight No. 1, 1969 4 ArtStudent_From the creators of Artists & Illustrators
© THE ESTATE OF FRANCIS BACON
Francis Bacon: Man and Beast 29 January 2021 to 17 April 2022 While debates on whether art is a means to the acquisition of a higher truth have raged for centuries, artistic maverick Francis Bacon thought he could get closer to understanding the true nature of humankind by watching the behaviour of animals – a theme that will be explored in this new exhibition. Spanning from the 1930s through to his final painting in 1991, the works going on show will all be raw expressions of Bacon’s anxiety and instinct, as he blurs the boundaries between humans and animals. The effect is a chilling reminder of our innate primal urges. Much of the painter’s iconic work provides a masterclass in how to marry figuration and abstraction. Also deserving of attention is his radical painterly technique. Observe how Bacon exploits the fluidity of oil paints and regularly opted for un-primed canvases for their coarse, textured effect. Royal Academy of Arts, London. www.royalacademy.org.uk
