JAMES MORRISON
JAMES MORRISON DECADES
6 to 23 January 2017
16 Dundas Street · Edinburgh EH3 6HZ +44 (0) 131 558 1200 mail@ scottish-gallery.co.uk www.scottish-gallery.co.uk
P R E FA C E
James Morrison had his first exhibition with The Scottish Gallery in 1959 and this show of new and some earlier work will be his twenty-fourth with us. The presumption must be that if a relationship between a gallery and an artist works it will persist, but also that in selecting its artists for exhibition the gallery is not influenced by what is à la mode, in a world constantly over-heated with wolfish interest in novelty. Instead the gallery should support and trust an artist in their endeavour while the artist will gain momentum from the process of exhibition, contemplation and renewal of work. In this way, generations of art lovers have been introduced to Morrison and over the decades as his work has developed many have continued their interest and enriched their collections with works as physically disparate as The Gorbals and Ellesmere Island and as psychologically separate as Notre Dame Cathedral and the battlefields of the Somme. Today, physical challenges have arrived uninvited and been overcome – the central motif of the artist, an inner eye that can recognise universal truths in nature, is unaltered and as striking and original as it was in 1959. Guy Peploe
2
3
INTRODUCTION
The retrospective exhibition at the Fleming Gallery in London
such as Connonsyth (2009) would be augmented with more studied
in 2013 brought together a collection of Morrison’s work from his
elements painted later in the studio. In the most recent paintings
60 years as a painter. In common with that show this exhibition
that consciously designed element has grown as the works are
is drawn from across the artist’s long career. The majority of the
increasingly painted indoors with the method of working adapting
works are recent or from the last twenty years but there are paint-
to suit. Now work is completed wholly in his studio. Images are
ings from the 1960s to the present day.
developed relative to each other and to memory. The method is
James Morrison is a painter of landscape and this show offers
the same, preliminary thin washes are used to define light with
the opportunity to consider some of the pathways of his career.
the lightest tones created by wiping out back to the bright white
The core painting venues repeatedly visited and revisited are
ground. Later paint is applied in increasing thick layers building
represented here as are the shifting responses to the land. The
contrasting values of light and dark.
evolution of the now readily identifiable visual language can be
Focal points are worked further with opaque colour. Gestures
seen as can the oscillation between Classicism and Romanticism
are suggestive of form, rather than specific in detail but still full
and a fusion of the two. Just as the sources and the technique
of energy and intent. The emphasis has moved from a majority of
evolve and shift, the paintings can also operate in different ways
works centred on recording a sense of place in discrete moments
for the viewer. Always more than simple transcriptions of nature,
of time, towards a more cerebral memory of place and of structure.
they can appear as a visual diary with entries marking points in
Work now develops more slowly, is more reflective. In these
time or they can evoke memory and hint at meaning forever just
paintings a conscious theatricality has emerged, on occasion
out of reach.
utilising virtual silhouettes, and sometimes radically reduced and
Morrison’s oil painting technique of washes of well thinned
heightened colour range. Along with these developments has
oil colour over a smooth gesso ground has evolved over years,
at times come a revival of an interest first explored in the 1960s
seasons and weathers. The familiar easy beginning of thin washes
in extreme linear formats, seen in works such as Meditation on
of colour applied with a generous broad brush is a counterpoint to
Nether Dysart. These paintings are reflected upon more in the
the often more intricate work to follow. The method developed in
creative process and build gradually towards their final form. They
order to paint rapidly outside with a concentration on tonal acuity,
draw less on direct experience and are more reliant on decades of
recording particular light events as they occurred, with paintings
looking and seeing the colour, weather, light and form, of Angus in
such as Western Space being painted almost entirely outdoors. In
particular. A distillation rather than a point in time.
contrast the tonal structure initially established for a painting
Alyson MacNeill & John Morrison
5
DECADES
6
7
8
1 Landscape, Angus, 1965
2 Denhead Farm II, 1963
oil on board · 17 x 20 cms
oil on board · 33 x 91.5 cms
9
3 Summer Fields, Balgove, 16.vii.1987 oil on gesso board · 80 x 114 cms · detail opposite
10
11
4 From Craig, 4.ix.1993 oil on board · 90 x 150 cms · detail opposite
12
13
5 Blue Hills, 15.vii.1998 oil on board · 100 x 150 cms
14
15
6 Sky Study II, Montrose, 28.iv.2001 oil on board · 100 x 150 cms
16
17
18
7 Horizon, Quinag, 16.v.2002
8 Ristol and Mullagrach, 20.v.2003
oil on board · 86.5 x 131 cms
oil on board · 101.5 x 152.5 cms
19
20
9 Assynt, 23.iii.2008
10 Atlantic Cloud, 12.v.2003
oil on board · 57 x 78 cms
oil on board · 101.5 x 152.5 cms
21
11 Cloud Capped Towers, 21.v.2003 oil on board · 48 x 152.5 cms
22
23
24
12 The Tweed, 26.xii.2003
13 The Powis, 7.iii.2006
oil on board · 46 x 152.5 cms
oil on board · 69 x 105 cms
25
14 Cloudy, VII.2006 oil on board · 65 x 104 cms · detail opposite
26
27
15 Cononsyth, v.2008 oil on board · 79 x 152 cms
28
29
16 Rhum and Eigg from Morar, 17.v.2009 oil on board · 96 x 152 cms
30
31
17 Northwards, IX.2010 oil on board · 34. 5 x 152 cms
32
33
18 Finally Summer, Mull, 3.vi.2001 oil on board · 97 x 152 cms
34
35
36
19 Farm and Sea, 20.i.2011
20 Birch Tree, 12.x.2011
oil on board · 30 x 61 cms
oil on board · 76 x 44 cms
37
21 Winter Light, 17.i.2011 oil on board · 35 x 109 cms
22 Dunninald Trees, 23.iii.2012 oil on board · 74 x 102 cms
38
39
23 Meditation on Nether Dysart IV, 13.xi.2013 oil on board · 10 x 147 cms
24 Meditation on Nether Dysart XI, 2.i.2014 oil on board · 51 x 142 cms
40
41
25 Morning Sun, 21.vii.2013 oil on board · 28 x 38 cms
26 Strathella, 1.v.2013 oil on board · 93 x 154 cms
42
43
44
27 Summer Isles II, 2013
28 Approaching Storm, II.2016
29 To the North East, 2013
oil on board · 29 x 50 cms
oil on board · 30.5 x 40.5 cms
oil on board · 19 x 23.5 cms
45
46
30 Farm on the Skyline, 31.iii.2014
31 Edge of the Forest, 10.v.2014
oil on board · 22 x 65 cms
oil on board · 27 x 28 cms
47
32 Solitude, 14.ii.2015 oil on board · 47 x 148 cms
48
49
50
33 Angus, II.2016
34 Dunes at Lunan, II.2016
oil on board · 36 x 64 cms
oil on board · 36 x 43 cms
51
35 Sky and Dunes, October 2016 oil on board · 73 x 102 cms
52
53
36 Strathmore, 2013 oil on board · 16 x 19 cms
37 The Sheltering Sky, October 2016 oil on board · 73 x 102 cms
54
55
38 Some Sunlight, 22.v.2015 oil on board · 70 x 110 cms
56
39 To the North, October 2016 oil on board · 73 x 102 cms
57
58
40 Fallow Ground, 2016
41 The Lunan, XI.2016
oil on board · 37 x 44 cms
oil on board · 36 x 54 cms
59
J A M E S M O R R I S O N R S A R S W D . U n i v. SOLO EXHIBITIONS
Portrait?
1932 Born in Glasgow
1956, 58 McClure Gallery, Glasgow
1950–54 Studied at Glasgow School of Art 1958 Won Torrance Memorial Prize, RGI
1959, 64, 67, 75, 78, 84, 88, 90, 92, 94, 97, 99, 2002, 2005 The Scottish Gallery, Edinburgh
Founder Member of Glasgow Group
1962 The Reid Gallery London
1962–63 Visiting Artist at Hospitalfield House, Arbroath
1968, 70 Vaughan College, Leicester
1965 Moved to Montrose
1970, 77 Compass Gallery, Glasgow
Joined staff at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art, Dundee 1968 Arts Council Travelling Scholarship to Greece
1968, 69 Richard Demarco Gallery, Edinburgh 1971, 72 Galleria Vaccarino, Florence 1973 Steiger Gallery, Moers, Germany 1974 Düsseldorf Kunstmesse
1969–71 Presenter of BBC Arts Programme Scope
1979, 81, 85, 95, 97, 2000 Thackeray Gallery, London
From 1976 Painting in various regions of France – Provence, Isere, Lot and Paris
1986 The Fine Art Society, Glasgow 1987 Waddington and Shiell Gallery, Toronto
1979–87 Senior Lecturer at Duncan of Jordanstone
1988 Perth Festival Exhibition, Perth Museum and Art Gallery
1987 Resigned post at Dundee to paint full-time
1989 The Scottish Gallery, London; The Macaulay Gallery, Stenton
Extended painting trip to Canada
1990 The Glasgow Paintings, William Hardie Gallery, Glasgow
1988 Writer and presenter of STV series The Scottish Picture Show 1990, 92, 94, 96 Painting in the Canadian High Arctic 1997 Painting in Botswana
1991 Paintings of the Canadian Arctic, The Scottish Gallery, Edinburgh 1991, 94 The Riverside Gallery, Stonehaven
1999 Painting in the Fens, Cambridgeshire
1992 Paris in Winter (drawings) – The Scottish Gallery, Edinburgh
2003 Painting in Switzerland
1993 The Arlesford Gallery, Hampshire
2007 Painting in Collioure, France
1995 Talbot Rice Gallery, (Arctic works) University of Edinburgh 2000 Painting of Mawana, The Scottish Gallery, Edinburgh
60
61
GROUP EXHIBITIONS 2000 Art London, The Scottish Gallery at the London Art Fair 2007 New Paintings, The Scottish Gallery, Edinburgh 2008 New Paintings, The Scottish Gallery, Edinburgh 2008 Painting Exhibition, Partridge Fine Art, London in association with The Scottish Gallery 2009 The Edge of Allegory, The Scottish Gallery, Edinburgh 2010 James Morrison at Kinblethmont, Kinblethmont, Angus 2012 A View from Here, The Scottish Gallery, Edinburgh 2013 Land and Landscape: The Painting of James Morrison, Fleming Collection, London 2013 James Morrison at Gallery 8, The Scottish Gallery, London
1981–82 Contemporary Art from Scotland, Touring Exhibition: Kendal, London, Sheffield, Cardiff, Middlesbrough
1964 +/-30, an exhibition of contemporary Scottish Art, Scottish Arts Council
1982 Small is Beautiful, Dunkeld Gallery; Glasgow Group Jubilee, McLellan Galleries, Glasgow
1966 10 West of Scotland Painters, Arts Council Gallery, Belfast 1967 First Edinburgh Open 100, Festival Exhibition, Richard Demarco Gallery, Edinburgh 1968 Three Centuries of Scottish Paintings, Canada Scottish Contemporary Painting, Richard Demarco Gallery, Edinburgh 1969 Oireachtais Exhibition, Municipal Gallery, Dublin 2 plus 3 Exhibition: Two Canadians and Three Scots (with Robert Downing, Jack Wise, Neil Dallas Brown and John Knox), Richard Demarco Gallery 1973 Galleria Acropoli, Venice
2015 The North Wind, The Scottish Gallery, Edinburgh
1977 Seven Painters in Dundee, Scottish Arts Council Exhibition, The McManus, Dundee
2017 Decades, The Scottish Gallery, Edinburgh
62
1956 The Arts and the Cafe Royal, an exhibition of contemporary painting, Edinburgh
2013 For Greer McKay – Move Him Into the Sun, The Scottish Gallery, Edinburgh
2015 Paintings of War, Montrose Museum, Montrose
COLLECTIONS
1976–85 Scottish Art, ESU, Edinburgh Festival
1980 Scottish Painting in Holland Scottish Print Open 2, an exhibition of contemporary Scottish prints 1981 Art Fair, Basel; Contemporary Scottish Painting, Arts Council Touring Exhibition; Eleven Scottish Artists, Universities of Surrey and Nottingham; Art in the City, MacLean Gallery, London
1983 Noise and Smoky Breath, Visual Images of Glasgow 1900–1983, Third Eye Centre, Glasgow 1984 Different Kinds of Good Weather, Arts Council Touring Exhibition; A Festival of Scottish Drawing, Fine Arts Society, Glasgow 1985 Art for Africa, Contemporary Scottish Art, City of Edinburgh Art Centre 1985 Portraits on Paper, Scottish Arts Council; The Parks in Glasgow, Compass Gallery, Glasgow 1986 Contemporary Scottish Painting, Open Eye Gallery, Edinburgh 1988 A Festival of Gardens, Fine Arts Society, Glasgow; 20th Anniversary, Thackeray Gallery, London; Post 1945 and Contemporary Art, Ewan Mundy Fine Art 1989 A View from the North East, ESU Gallery, Edinburgh; The Auld Alliance, Riverside Gallery, Stonehaven & The Scottish Gallery, Edinburgh; London Sea and Shore, The Scottish Gallery, Edinburgh 1990 Scottish Art, 1900–1990, The Scottish Gallery, London; Paintings from the Clydesdale Bank Collecion, Glasgow; 21 Years of Contemporary Art, Tramway Gallery, Glasgow; A Patron of Art, The Royal Bank Collection, Edinburgh
Aberdeen Art Gallery and Museum
High Life Highland Exhibitions Unit
ANGUSalive
Hunterian Art Gallery, Glasgow
Art in Heatlhcare
I.B.M.
1993 The Twelve Days of Christmas, The Scottish Gallery, Edinburgh
Aviva PLC
Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum
Bank of Scotland
Life Association of Scotland
1999 Mountain, Wolverhampton Art Gallery; Members of the RSA, The Albemarle Gallery, London
BBC
Lillie Art Gallery, Glasgow
Brascan, Canada
Lloyds Bank PLC
Britoil PLC
Low and Bonar PLC
1991 Scottish Art in the 20th Century, Royal West of England Academy, Bristol 1992 150th Anniversary Exhibition, The Scottish Gallery, Edinburgh
Connections, RSA Festival Exhibition; Painter Members of the RSA, Albemarle Gallery, London 2001 Aspects of Scottish Drawings, 1900–2001, The Scottish Gallery, Edinburgh 2004 Art London with The Scottish Gallery 2008 Alliance Francaise, (with Douglas Davies), Glasgow Exhibition 2015 10th Anniversary Exhibition, Kinblethmont, Angus
City of Edinburgh Council
Perth Museum and Art Gallery
Clydesdale Bank
Perth and Kinross Council
Department of the Environment (DEFRA)
Royal Scottish Academy, Edinbrugh
Royal Bank of Scotland
Distillers Co PLC
Scottish Amicable Life Assurance Society
Dundas & Wilson
Scottish Fisheries Museum
Dundee Art Galleries and Museum
SISIS Equipment Ltd
Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Heriot-Watt, Stirling and Strathclyde Universities
Strathclyde Regional Council
Earl of Airlie
The Scottish Arts Council
Earl of Dalhousie Earl of Moray
Tayside House, Dundee The Fleming-Wyfold Art Foundation Vaughan College, Leicester Wm Grant and Sons Ltd
Edinburgh Fund Managers Glasgow School of Art
Works in offices and Embassies worldwide
Glasgow Museums Resrouce Centre
Works in Private Collections in the UK, Canada, Europe and USA
Government Art Collection Grampian Television H.R.H Duke of Edinburgh
63
Land and Landscape: the Painting of James Morrison 160pp · £30.00 · 27 x 24 cms Land and Landscape: the Painting of James Morrison, Professor John Morrison’s book on his father, published by The Fleming Collection, is available in three different versions (blue, aubergine and brown). It was published to coincide with the major retrospective of the artist held at The Fleming Collection, London from the 19 February – 6 April 2013. Please contact the Gallery for more information.
16 Dundas Street · Edinburgh EH3 6HZ Telephone +44 (0) 131 558 1200 Email mail@scottish-gallery.co.uk www.scottish-gallery.co.uk Gallery hours: Monday to Friday 10–6pm and Saturday 10–4pm Published by The Scottish Gallery for the exhibition James Morrison: Decades held at 16 Dundas Street from 6 to 23 January 2017
ISBN 978 1 910267 50 9 Images © James Morrison 2o17 Catalogue © The Scottish Gallery 2017 All rights reserved Photography by John McKenzie Designed and typeset in Kingfisher by Dalrymple Printed in Scotland by J Thomson Front and back covers: detail from Strathella, 1.v.2013 [26]
64