Alon Zakaim Fine Art presents an exhibition of new and recent works by contemporary British artist Clive Head. At its heart is a series of eight large-scale paintings, displayed across two floors alongside drawings, works from his Visionary Series, and complementary works from the gallery. Together, they offer an insight into Head’s evolving approach to painting, revealing the processes, themes and visual connections that underpin his work.
The show opens with Over Night Stop, a view of London at night juxtaposed with the interior of a hotel room, where a woman sleeps. The scene quickly intensifies as a shadow creeps into view. Henri Rousseau’s The Dream hangs above the bed, while the folds of the bedding add to the uneasiness of the moment. Across the gallery, these new works marry together Head’s experience as a realist painter with his more recent exploration of human narratives. Head has always pushed the boundaries of realist painting. He first rose to prominence in the 1990s with his vast urban landscapes, culminating in Modern Perspectives, an exhibition at London’s National Gallery in 2010.