CONCRETE>ABSTRACT

KeaneArtStudio is pleased to announce the exhibition CONCRETE>ABSTRACT at the Terrace Gallery, (Karl Bielik). A group show, presenting ten artists curated by Stephen Keane.

A recurring theme of modernist painting, particularly during the first half of the 20th century, was the move from realism towards abstraction. Artists would often begin with a visual experience and then move away from direct representation towards an abstraction that prioritised "autonomy, medium and form" (i). Later, painters abandoned representation of the visual world completely, instead focussing on other, purified notions of abstraction.

In recent years, artists, particularly painters, have begun to revisit some of these questions, considering them unfinished business. Some artists steer their work away from figuration, embracing abstraction as a departure point, while others, are finding inspiration in intuitive abstraction and guiding it towards a discovered spatiality. The proposed exhibition will show the work of eleven artists, each of whom is, in some way, grappling with these issues. It will explore the dynamic interplay between figuration and abstraction and the diverse approaches these artists take when navigating the continuum from the concrete to the abstract.

The title, 'CONCRETE>ABSTRACT' attempts to outline the essential nature of this exploration - a journey where each artist explores their own unique degree of abstraction. The participating artists question the boundaries and perceptions of painting, inviting the viewer to share their journey.

(i) Andrew, N. (2020) Moving Modernism: The Urge to Abstraction in Painting, Dance and Cinema, Oxford University Press. Page 1