Ralph Freeman - one half of "Back to Back"

R A L P H F R E E M A N ‘Back to Back’ 6 th November 2021 - 27 th November 2021

New Craftsman Gallery presents a second collaborative exhibition by father and daughter Ralph and Alice Freeman. Their recent work takes two very different approaches to materials, process and intent – for Alice, an underlying obsession with exploring the intricacies of the organic, and for Ralph a search for the abstract within the architectural. Both their practices, however, share within them a foundation of the process of drawing.

Back to Back is a re-evaluation of two diverse perspectives after lockdown, the finding of another way back to today, but not back to before.

Ralph Freeman has found himself unlocking memories, retrieving atmospheres of places, and bird’s eye views of seemingly distant times. Perhaps, or because of the strangeness and uncertainty which still surrounds us, structure and form have become even more essential to his work.

“During these last two years I found myself unlocking memories, retrieving atmospheres of places, senses of spaces, birds eye views of seemingly distant times; travelling through a window, a skylight, a corner of nature reclaimed.

References to the architectural are unavoidable, even though what I think I remember may be just imagined.

Perhaps, or because of the strangeness and uncertainty which still surrounds us, structure and form have become even more essential.

It’s as if the work is creating its own kind of framework as a reflection or reaction.

I try to work on the periphery of the content, to find a kind of perfect imbalance.

Although against my instincts, I try to avoid being herded into certainty, keeping the conversation open and in a state of flux between the elements of form, colour and space.

It’s a desire to make something new, with the eye, the heart, the hand, but not the mind, whilst continuing a conversation with the past.”

R.F. 11. 2021

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B I O G RA P H Y Born in London, Ralph Freeman studied at St Martin’s and Harrow Schools of Art 1961-1965.

He worked as an artist, graphic designer and musician in London and Europe until 1983, whereafter he has painted exclusively. He also continues to compose and perform as a jazz pianist, in 1998 founding St Ives Jazz Club.

Moving to St Ives in 1988, he was elected a member of the Newlyn and the Penwith Societies of Artists and awarded a Porthmeor Studios Arts Council tenancy.

Work from this period was featured in a solo show at Tate St Ives.

In 2012 he relocated and now works from his London studio.

His work has been exhibited in the UK, Germany, Italy, Holland and USA.

LIST OF WORKS 1. ‘Quartet’ - 2021, oil on canvas, 75 x 208 cm - £8000 2. ‘Black Triangle’ - 2021, oil on linen, 76 x 69 cm - £3800 3. ‘Succession’ - 2021, oil on linen, 60 x 60 cm - £3200 4. ‘Signs of Life’ - 2021, oil on linen, 78 x 78 cm - £4500 5. ‘Why Fly’ - 2021, mixed media on paper, 37 x 40 cm - £2200 6. ‘Foolish Heart’ - 2021, oil on paper, 28 x 38 cm - £1300 7. ‘Ghost of a Chance’ - 2021, oil on paper, 28x38 cm - £1300 8. ‘Curious Wish’ - 2021, oil on paper, 28 x 38 cm - £1300 9. ‘Out of Nowhere’ - 2021, oil on paper, 38 x 29 cm - £1300 10. ‘Safe to Fall’ - 2021, oil on linen, 75 x 86 cm - £4600 11. ‘Laugh Moving On’ - 2021, oil on linen, 75 x 75 cm - £4500 12. ‘Later than Night’ - 2021, oil on linen, 75 x 75 cm - £4500 13. ‘Jagged Dawn - 2021, oil on linen, 75 x 75 cm - £4500 14. ‘I Wish I Knew’ - 2021, oil on canvas, 60 x 60 cm - £3200 15. ‘Quiet Exile’ - 2021, oil on canvas, 60 x 60 cm - £3200 16. ‘Echo’ - 2021, oil on canvas, 60 x 60 cm - £3200 17. ‘Shard’ - 2021, oil on canvas, 60 x 60 cm - £3200 18. ‘Fallen Light’ - 2021, oil on canvas, 60 x 60 cm - £3200 19. ‘Both Ways’ - 2021, oil on canvas, 60 x 60 cm - £3200 20. ‘Invitation’ - 2021, oil on paper, 28 x 38 cm - £1300

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