The Shock of the New’ was a BBC series on contemporary art presented by critic Robert Hughes back in the 80s – and that title certainly came to mind when l walked into a picture gallery at Bath’s Holburne Museum this morning.
Half of it looked like a crime scene from TV’s NCS – with paintings covered and people walking around in white overalls – while the other section, stripped of its usual hangings, presented the wow factor!
A huge mural now covers the end wall. A new and powerful installation by Swiss-born artist Nicolas Party.
I was getting a sneak preview – before the gallery is returned to a more normal appearance in time for the opening of this talented man’s exhibition “Copper and Dust’ which runs from Monday, May 12th through to the end of August.
The mural responds to a 17th-century Dutch work in the museum’s collection.
Elsewhere, Nicolas exhibits more intimate oil on copper works of vibrant intensity.
I wanted to know how he felt about making such a massive intervention within such a grand and classical building.
More info via https://holburne.org/
