EXHIBITION: IAN MCKEEVER

Artists’ Laboratory. Ian McKeveer  RA . 01      

Royal Academy of Arts presents a programme of shows “Artists’ Laboratory” giving an opportunity for the Academicians to present and the viewers to get a glimpse of an individual artist’s creative process, her or his inspirations and their representations. 

The exhibition of Ian McKeever is a two different media show exploring ideas characteristic of the artist’s practice. Viewers are presented with a group of large scale paintings, called ‘Hartgrove Paintings’, and small in size series of photographs. The latter is the artist’s less familiar to the public body of work that becomes a complementary and insightful element of Ian McKeever ‘s art. 

Both groups of works are an artistic response to the space the artist is familiar with and explores. Limited mostly to black, white and off white colour scheme paintings refer to expansive open landscapes whereas black and white photographs depict fragments of an intimate enclosed space or surfaces of the objects placed in that space . The painted layers of ribbons and patches create an abstract composition where viewers can see a gradual process of creating a painting. The photographs show objects and environments viewers can easily identify.

The artist’s interest in light and possibility to present three dimensional effect of depth through two dimensional media is strongly present in the artworks.  Both paintings and photographs are of static nature and viewers can focus on light and shadow relation and their relevance to the study of depth. The illusion of depth is not only achieved through colour contrast but also through the artist’s engagement with a medium revealed by exploring the potential of the very medium.  Focusing on the abstract and on certain areas of surfaces rather than the whole objects creates associations of a microscopic examination. The understanding of the study is enhanced by the fact that the artist’s works are presented in groups.  A body of work serves to analyse, comprehend and present certain ideas and themes in a reflective and extensive way.  Ian McKeever’s paintings and photographs become a language, a code, through which the artist communicates with the audience.

The exhibition of Ian McKeever’s artworks is an engaging experience. The artworks are delicate and subtle and evoke a feeling of tranquillity. They are poetic and slightly melancholic. They invite a viewer to follow the study and to sense the atmosphere of a gentle reflection. Ian McKeever’s art is an art of idea and emotion.

Artists’ Laboratory 01: Ian McKeever RA [Internet]. Available from <http://www.royalacademy.org.uk/exhibitions/artists-laboratory/> [Accessed 10 October, 2010]

Ian McKeever [Internet]. Available from <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ian_McKeever> [Accessed 10 October, 2010]

Ian McKeever RA [Internet]. Available from <http://www.royalacademy.org.uk//academicians/painters/ian-mckeever-ra,192,AR.html>[Accessed 10 October, 2010]

Lynton, N. (2010) Artists Laboratory. Ian McKeever RA. Hartgrove Paintings and Photographs. London: Royal Academy of Arts.