(Above) Nick Archer, Lamps
Exhibition: England’s Glory, Gallery 27, London, until June 26 2010
Despite the increasingly tragic feel of its title, this Professional Footballers’ Association-sponsored raft of more than 300 items from the 1780s to the present day became the biggest football exhibition in London for 57 years when it opened yesterday, featuring more than 300 paintings, prints, posters, sculptures and ceramics.
Many of them are from contemporary artists, and the historical big names include Eric Gill and LS Lowry, hosted alongside Old Master and Japanese woodclock prints and caricatures by the likes of Thomas Rowlandson, George Cruikshank and Ralph Steadman.
Their themes aim to remain broad, inspired by the World Cup, Premier League, domestic settings and personalities. The show has also embraced an open squad selection policy, calling up relative newcomers such as Nick Archer, whose paintings depict the long-forgotten sights of England scoring a goal and midfielder Frank Lampard celebrating.
Nick Archer, Goal!
“The football images were found photographs from the back pages of a newspaper,” he says, having translated them into paint on canvas or paper.
“With these particular images I was attracted by their simplicity, which allowed me to enhance the abstract qualities of design and composition.”
His works still resemble photos on first sight, but the subtle splashes of Archer’s brush reveal the truth on closer inspection.
“What is translated into paint is the sense of movement and energy, the snapshot quality or the moment of adrenaline. It’s a suspension of that moment,” he explains.
“This is a moment which is full of excitement and yet feels silent and empty."
Gallery 27, Cork Street, London. Open 10am-7pm. Admission free, visit the gallery online or call 020 7287 8408 for more.
For more on Nick Archer and other participating artists visit The School Creative Centre.
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