Jonathan Cooper is delighted to present Behind the Mask: Visions of Venice, an exhibition of new work by British artist Gerard Stamp, opening in our London this October.
Venice is among the most frequently painted and photographed cities in the world. Stamp approached the subject with an awareness of this extensive visual history and of the challenge of finding a personal response to such familiar architecture. Rather than concentrating on the city’s best-known views or its activity as a tourist destination, he sought, in his words, to get “under the skin of Venice” and look “behind the mask.”
The exhibition developed from Stamp’s early-morning walks through the city. Rising at around five o’clock, he observed Venice before its streets and canals became crowded: when buildings emerged gradually in the morning light, reflections remained undisturbed by boats, and quieter streets could be studied without distraction. These experiences provided the basis for works completed later in his studio.
Architecture lies at the centre of the exhibition.