(Above) Picture © The artist/Keith Hunter photography
A towering and colourful melange of painted chairs and handbags created by Scottish artist Jim Lambie is the latest artwork to be acquired by Glasgow Gallery of Modern Art.
The sculpture, which has been acquired with the support of The Art Fund, is called Seven and Seven Is or Sunshine Bathed the Golden Glow and, typically for Lambie, references songs by two of his favourite bands; the former by 1960s LA psychedelic pioneers Love, the latter by 1980s atmospheric guitar merchants Felt.
Reflecting on GoMA's enduring commitment to purchasing work that reflects the development and practice of contemporary fine art in Scotland, Art Fund Director David Barrie predicted the piece would be a “star attraction" at Glasgow's Gallery of Modern Art.
"Lambie's international reputation and Glaswegian roots make his work an essential presence in the gallery’s permanent collection," added Barrie.
The piece was originally created in 2008 for the Glasgow International Festival of Visual Arts and formed the centrepiece of Lambie's solo exhibition at GoMA the same year. Jim Lambie – Forever Changes (another Love reference) was the gallery's largest and most popular show of 2008, drawing 310,000 visitors.
To create his music-inspired piece, Lambie cut many of the chairs in half to create a teetering, wavelike effect before painting them in gloss paint and attaching handbags decorated with broken mirrors.
The Art Fund provided a £76,700 grant to purchase the artwork.
