While I was in London to see the Rothko exhibition I made a second visit to The Saatchi Gallery to take in The Revolution Continues one more time before the exhibition ended.

Below are a few more photo’s which I took, the first are of the work by Zhang Dali of 15 life-size figures cast in resin and suspended upside down from the ceiling of one of the gallery rooms. They represent immigrant workers from the rural areas of China that have come to work in the construction industry in the cities., each one of the figures is tattooed with the signature of the artist and the title Chinese Offspring. A very strange yet effective spectacle.

Chinese Offspring – Zhang Dali

I also had to get a second look at the paintings of Zhang Xiaogang. These are portraits on an immense scale and feature characters with oversized, ever so slightly out of focus photographic like heads with peculiar mechanized expressions that stare out at the viewer with a chilling detachment. Mesmerising works.

Untitled 2008 – Zhang Xiaogang

A Big Family 1995 – Zhang Xiaogang

And one from Yue Minjun

Untitled 2005 – Yue Minjun

Once again my thanks to Charles Saatchi and his staff at The Saatchi Gallery for allowing me to take the above photgraphs.

Now I can’t wait to return for the new exhibition, which promises to be very exciting indeed, Unveiled: New Art From The Middle East opens this week and runs until the 6th May 2009.

Mark Rothko – West 53rd Street Studio – photo by Henry Elkan, c. 1953

Well, I made it to the Rothko exhibition at The Tate Modern last week and I am really glad that I did. As it was not possible to photograph any of the works I have included a couple of images courtesy of The Tate.

Rothko’s words confront the continual stream of visitors in the area adjoininng the exhibition – `if people want sacred experiences they will find them here. If they want profane experience they’ll find them too. I take no sides.’ – and the beauty of this exhibition is that whatever ones view of Rothko’s work, as one enters The Rothko Room there is no escaping the sheer power and energy of the paintings on display.

In part because of the immediate challenge to the senses that these immense canvases provoke, but also because the maroons, dark reds, oranges and blacks shimmer in the dimness of the mysterious glow of the almost supernatural low lighting used in the room…..and the deathly stillness as many stood, silently, staring, deeply immersed in their own thoughts merely contributed to the already other worldly feel.

I could not fail to be moved and I would certainly class this Rothko exhibition as “a must see” if ever there was one, and if you haven’t seen it yet but you get the chance there are still two weeks of it left, it runs until February 1st 2009.

Four Darks in Red 1958
Whitney Museum of American Art, New York Purchase, with funds from the Friends of the Whitney Museum of American Art, Mr. and Mrs. Eugene M. Schwartz, Mrs. Samuel A. Seaver and Charles Simon © Kate Rothko Prizel and Christopher Rothko/DACS 1998

Black on Maroon 1958
Tate. Presented by the artist through the American Federation of Arts 1969
© Kate Rothko Prizel and Christopher Rothko/DACS 1998

As we enter the second week of 2009 here are a few of my personal moments which, and in addition to my artistic and cultural experiences of 2008, formed some of my highlights of the year with some of my artist friends.

Some press coverage in The Cornishman

and some creative photography of Linda, myself and Chris, with Lucie and Val looking on during the exhibition hanging – taken, of course, by Paul.

and another shot of some of us at the beach in Marazion during the summer, pictured here are Linda Bowen, Lucie Bond, Chris Holloway and myself

and one that I took of Paul Chapman at Penzance Harbour, with Warlord in the background, later to feature in one of my paintings

and here we are, my special and lovely friends and myself (Sue, Jean, Me, Paul, Linda and Lucie) in Paul’s garden with Paul showing off his newly acquired “Billington”

Finally I would like to thank everybody who has supported, encouraged and/or purchased any of my work during 2008, especially the artists Diane Ibbotson, Alison Cameron, Jackie East and Dawn Walker, as well as the American sculptor Larry Steele and the art historian John A Walker, and in particular my good friend, inspiration and mentor throughout the year, Cecil Riley and his lovely wife, the artist, Joan Riley.

Below is a picture of me and Cecil at Newlyn which was taken during the summer months only moments after he had given an entertaining opening speach for an exhibition. Cecil, of course, was on BBC Spotlight TV later in the year which was great to see.

and here is a snapshot of the current painting in progress in my studio

which, apart from filling up with work, is getting untidy again

And finally a thank you to my website designer Chris Thornton for providing a friendly, courteous, good value service where nothing is too much trouble. For artists seeking a website design service Grish Art should be high on your list, most of my communication with Chris is by email and the service works flawlessly.