Every Angel has a Dark Side, Julian Schnabel’s first major solo exhibition of paintings in the UK for nearly 15 years, opened today at the Dairy Art Centre in Bloomsbury. The show’s on for a couple of months and if you get a chance to swing by, I reckon you shouldn’t pass it up. I certainly considered the press preview I attended Thursday morning to be the first of hopefully a few more visits at least to see this excellent and brass-necked exhibition.
Known as much (or more these days) for his films (including Before Night Falls) as for his paintings, Schnabel – in the words of Dairy Art Centre cofounder Nicolai Frahm – finishes a painting when “all the information is there.” The information that’s there in this group of works is worth paying attention to. I haven’t been particularly wowed by any contemporary art in quite awhile. So thank you Mr Schnabel for ending the dry spell for me. The 18 new and rarely seen paintings (well, 19 actually if you know where to look for the secret extra painting), in Every Angel are downright fierce, vicious even.
Equally, it was an inspiration to tour round the Dairy Art Centre (my first time there; it’s a really fine space for viewing large paintings) in a small group of journos with Schnabel on hand to discuss his works. “The meaning of what you’re doing is in how it’s done,” he explained when thrown a question along the line of why he paints. Another similar request received this answer, “Anything is an excuse to make a painting.” Whatever excuse you have, be sure to hit the Dairy Art Centre before this show’s gone.
Every Angel has a Dark Side runs until 27 July at the Dairy Art Centre, 7A Wakefield Street, WC1N 1PG. Find out more at dairyartcentre.org.uk.
