Dimensions: support: 2133 x 1981 mm
Copyright: © Fiona Rae | CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 DEED, Photo: Tate
Curator: Fiona Rae's large-scale "Untitled (yellow)" presents a dynamic field of abstract forms and vibrant hues. I'm struck by the sheer scale and the textures layered across the canvas. Editor: It does feel quite exuberant. The material handling here feels quite intuitive, not heavily labored but rather freely applied. I wonder about her studio practice. Curator: Rae’s orchestration of line and color evokes a sense of playful chaos. The composition denies a single focal point, inviting the eye to wander. Editor: True, and the layering of opaque and translucent paint suggests an interest in exploring the physical properties of paint and its potential for mark-making. This is not merely representational. Curator: Indeed. The interplay of geometric and organic shapes generates a visual tension that resonates with the complexities of contemporary experience. Editor: I find it intriguing how the artist challenges traditional hierarchies by using "low" materials and embracing process as a key element. Curator: An astute observation, one that certainly enhances our understanding of Rae's artistic vision. Editor: Absolutely, a really lively piece that makes me think differently about what painting can be.
http://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/rae-untitled-yellow-t06482
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This painting was exhibited in the open section (aperto) of the Venice Biennale in 1990. It is representative of an early phase of Rae's work in terms of its clarity of form and colour, unbalanced composition and disjointed motifs. Much of the canvas is left blank. As a result the marks themselves encourage more concentrated examination. Rae paints in a variety of manners, sometimes applying paint thickly and at others very thinly and flatly. Although she observes closely the styles of other artists she avoids parody by weaving them together in such a way as to transform them. Gallery label, August 2004